צָבוּעַ
𐤑𐤁𐤅𐤏
tsâbûwaʻ
H6641 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A passive participle form meaning 'colored, dyed in stripes or spots,' used both literally of something marked or patterned to indicate color variation (such as cloth or animal hide), and specifically as a designation for the hyena, likely due to its distinctive markings. In extended usage, refers to anything that is marked, streaked, or superficially adorned by coloration.
Semantic Range
dyed, colored, streaked, speckled, variegated, marked (patterned), hyena (animal distinguished by markings), anything with artificially or naturally patterned coloration
Root / Etymology
From the root צ־ב־ע (צבע), meaning to dye, color, or tinge. The form צָבוּעַ is a passive participle, indicating something that has been dyed, patterned, or colored, either by natural or artificial means.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In all attested biblical occurrences (notably Jeremiah 12:9), the term denotes an animal with a variegated appearance—traditionally identified in translation as a 'hyena.' Ancient Jewish and Near Eastern zoological classification for the hyena is uncertain and may differ from later identifications; the focus is on the animal’s marked or mottled skin. The word can, in broader contexts, refer to speckled or streaked textiles. English translations often render it as 'speckled bird' or 'hyena,' though the Hebrew refers more generally to the attribute of being dyed, streaked, or variegated. When the term appears in rabbinic Hebrew and other post-biblical sources, it retains the association with distinctive coloration and sometimes specifically with the hyena due to its striped or spotted fur. The semantic boundary between this term and related words for 'spotted' (e.g., נָקֹד) is not always distinct, but צָבוּעַ carries a connotation of something intentionally dyed or naturally marked in an unusual way.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
passive participle of the same as צֶבַע; dyed (in stripes), i.e. the hyena; speckled.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צבע (ts-b-ʿ) — to dye, to color, to tinge
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6647 | צְבַע | the ones immersing |
| H6648 | צֶבַע | dyed fabrics |
| H6649 | צִבְעוֹן | to Variegated-One |
| H6650 | צְבֹעִים | the Hyenas |
| H676 | אֶצְבַּע | grasping digits |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6641-01 |
צָב֤וּעַ | tsavua | HAamsa |
speckled | dyed-patterned one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6641-01 |
Jeremiah 12:9 | צָב֤וּעַ | tsavua | HAamsa |
speckled | dyed-patterned one |