בָּצֵק
𐤁𐤑𐤒
bâtsêq
H1216 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To swell up, specifically of dough as it rises; by extension, to be leavened or be in a fermenting state. The term indicates the process whereby dough expands due to fermentation, leading to its use in reference to leavened dough or the physical act of swelling. The primary lexical meaning relates to substances (often dough) expanding as a result of internal activity or fermentation.
Semantic Range
to swell (especially of dough), to be leavened, to ferment, to rise (figurative or literal swelling); swelling/expansion due to fermentation
Root / Etymology
Root: בצק. The root appears to express the idea of swelling or rising, especially due to fermentation. The verb form is rarely attested, but the nominal form (בָּצֵק, batsēq) refers specifically to dough. The root may have originally described any kind of swelling, but in Hebrew usage, is largely restricted to leavening of dough.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical contexts, בָּצֵק predominantly appears as a noun referring to unleavened or leavened dough (see Exodus 12, describing the departure from Egypt). Its verbal form is rare and not used productively in most strata of Biblical Hebrew. The semantic core is the swelling or rising that accompanies fermentation, especially as it pertains to making bread. While Strong's gloss included related physical phenomena such as blisters, Hebrew usage restricts the term more narrowly to dough or similar substances. In rabbinic and later Hebrew, the word continues to mean 'dough.' The verb sense 'to be leavened/swell' is inferred from the nominal usage and word formation, but direct occurrences are rare. Later English translations (KJV, etc.) sometimes use 'blister' or 'swelling' outside dough contexts, but this is not attested in biblical Hebrew itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; perhaps to swell up, i.e. blister; swell.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בצק (b-ṣ-q) — to swell, to rise, to ferment
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1216-01 |
בָצֵ֑קָה | vatseqah | HVqp3fs |
swell | she swelled | 1 |
H1216-02 |
בָצֵֽקוּ | vatsequ | HVqp3cp |
they swelled | they swelled up | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1216-01 |
Deuteronomy 8:4 | בָצֵ֑קָה | vatseqah | HVqp3fs |
swell | she swelled |
H1216-02 |
Nehemiah 9:21 | בָצֵֽקוּ | vatsequ | HVqp3cp |
they swelled | they swelled up |