Bible Word Study
צָבֶה
tsâbeh · turgid
צָבֶה
turgid
Definition
The Hebrew noun צָבֶה (tsâbeh) describes a state of being swollen or turgid, specifically referring to a physical condition of distension. In its sole biblical occurrence, it is used in the context of a bodily curse or affliction. The word conveys a sense of unnatural bloating or puffiness, likely as a visible sign of a malady or divine judgment. This specific meaning is tied directly to its usage in the ritual described in Numbers 5:21.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 5:21, within the specific ritual of the suspected adulteress (the sotah). The priest pronounces a curse that the woman's 'thigh will fall away' and her 'belly will swell' (וְצָבְתָה בִטְנֵךְ). Its usage is entirely confined to this legal and ritual context, describing a potential physical symptom resulting from a divine oath.
Etymology
צָבֶה is derived from the root צָבָה (H6638), which means 'to swell' or 'to become inflated.' It is a verbal noun (a nomen actionis) that concretizes the action of the root into a state or condition. Cognate words in other Semitic languages also carry meanings related to swelling or rising.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is part of a divine judicial mechanism in the Mosaic law. The potential swelling was not seen as a random medical symptom but as a direct, supernatural sign from God to establish guilt or innocence in a case with no human witnesses (Numbers 5:21-22). It underscores the biblical theme of God as the ultimate judge who reveals hidden truth and the serious covenant consequences of adultery. In its ancient Israelite context, this ritual addressed a profound social disruption where trust within a marriage was broken without evidence. The physical swelling described by צָבֶה would have been understood as a tangible, public verdict from Yahweh Himself, serving as a powerful deterrent and a means to resolve cases that threatened community harmony and covenant fidelity. בָּצֶק (batsaq, H1216) — refers to dough that is swollen or leavened; צָבָה (tsâbâh, H6638) — the verbal root meaning 'to swell.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]