צָבָה
𐤑𐤁𐤄
tsâbâh
H6638 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To swell, become inflated, or grow distended, either physically (as in the swelling of the body or face) or metaphorically (to become haughty, to act with insolence or presumption); in some contexts, to amass or gather, particularly with the sense of a swelling host or group; rarely, to array oneself (as in preparation for conflict) or to confront.
Semantic Range
to swell (physically), to become distended (especially as a sign of affliction), to act with pride or insolence (figuratively), to render insolent or presumptuous, to amass or gather (in the sense of swelling numbers), to array oneself or confront (rare, context-dependent)
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology: Root צבה (tz-b-h), likely originally signifying 'to swell' or 'to become distended.' The physical sense of swelling or inflation leads secondarily to metaphorical uses, such as pride, insolence, or self-exaltation, and, by extension, to the notion of 'mass' or 'assembling.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The basic sense in the Hebrew Bible is physiological or metaphorical swelling (Deuteronomy 32:15 refers to Jeshurun 'growing fat and kicking,' possibly alluding to self-satisfaction or arrogance, though צָבָה is not the primary word in that verse). Most attested uses refer to swelling in the body, as in afflictions or disease (Numbers 5:21–27 describes processes of the body swelling in the Sotah ordeal). Usage rarely extends to mustering or assembling with an aggressive sense (as in military confrontation), though such developments are attested in post-biblical Hebrew and reflected in related Semitic cognates. The word can be contextually synonymous with גָּדַל (gadal, 'to grow, become great') or רָחַב (rachav, 'to become wide'), but focuses specifically on the aspect of distension—whether literal, as in bodily swelling, or figurative as in pride. Later translation traditions sometimes render the sense as 'swelling with pride' or 'arraying for battle,' but the latter is rare in the Hebrew Bible. The English translation 'to amass' is interpretive and not always precise for ancient usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to amass, i.e. grow turgid; specifically, to array an army against; fight swell.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צבה (tz-b-h) — to swell, to puff up, to become distended
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6638-02 |
וְ/צָבְתָ֣ה | vetsavetah | HC/Vqq3fs |
and-her-belly-will-swell | and she swelled | 1 | |
H6638-01 |
לַ/צְבּ֥וֹת | latsebot | HR/Vhc |
to swell | to cause to swell | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6638-01 |
Numbers 5:22 | לַ/צְבּ֥וֹת | latsebot | HR/Vhc |
to swell | to cause to swell | |
H6638-02 |
Numbers 5:27 | וְ/צָבְתָ֣ה | vetsavetah | HC/Vqq3fs |
and-her-belly-will-swell | and she swelled |