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צוּם

𐤑𐤅𐤌

tsûwm

H6684 verb

SILEX Entry

Root צום to abstain, refrain, fast

Definition

To abstain from food and/or drink for a period of time, typically as an expression of religious devotion, mourning, penitence, or urgent supplication. In most biblical contexts, the term refers to an intentional refraining from eating, sometimes including drinking, for spiritual or communal purposes. Its primary reference is to the act of fasting, both corporate and individual.

Semantic Range

to abstain from food and/or drink, to fast (for religious or communal reasons), to self-deny, to engage in ritual abstention

Root / Etymology

Root: צום. The root carries the basic sense of refraining or abstaining, most often in the context of food and drink. The etymology outside Hebrew is uncertain and there are no certain cognates in other Semitic languages, though some have proposed Arabic parallels. The term conveys not merely the absence of eating, but an active, purposeful abstention.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Usage of צום as a verb is found in diverse periods and genres of biblical literature, including narrative (Judg 20:26, 1 Sam 7:6), prophetic (Zech 7:5), and post-exilic contexts (Esth 4:16). In early texts, fasting is often associated with mourning (e.g., death, calamity) or seeking divine help in times of crisis (Judg 20:26). Later texts, especially in the post-exilic and Second Temple periods, show development toward prescribed communal fasting practices and fast days (e.g., Zech 7:4–6). The root does not inherently denote a ritual; context determines whether the abstention is religious, personal, or communal. Related nouns (ָצוֹם, 'fast') expand the concept. Standard English translations render the verb as 'to fast,' but this does not always convey the full range of ancient Israelite motivations, which could include lament, penitence, or urgent petition. Later Hebrew and related traditions further develop fasting as a regularized religious practice.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to cover over (the mouth), i.e. to fast; [idiom] at all, fast.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צום (ṣ-w-m) — to abstain, refrain, fast

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6685 צוֹם in a fast

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6684-13 וַ/יָּצ֥וּמוּ vayatsumu HC/Vqw3mp and fasted they fasted 5
H6684-04 צָ֔ם tsam HVqrmsa fast fasting one 2
H6684-03 תָּצ֔וּמוּ tatsumu HVqi2mp you fast you will fast 2
H6684-09 צַמְתֻּ֖/נִי tsametuni HVqp2mp/Sp1cs that you fasted for me you fasted for me 1
H6684-11 וַ/יָּ֤צָם vayatsam HC/Vqw3ms and fasted and he fasted 1
H6684-05 צַּ֨מְנוּ֙ tsamenu HVqp1cp have we fasted we fasted 1
H6684-15 יָצֻ֗מוּ yatsumu HVqi3mp they fast they will fast 1
H6684-10 וַ/נָּצ֛וּמָ/ה vanatsumah HC/Vqw1cp/Sh So we fasted and we fasted 1
H6684-07 צַמְתֶּ֨ם tsametem HVqp2mp you fasted you fasted 1
H6684-14 וְ/צ֣וּמוּ vetsumu HC/Vqv2mp and fast and fast 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6684-13 Judges 20:26 וַ/יָּצ֥וּמוּ vayatsumu HC/Vqw3mp and fasted they fasted
H6684-13 1 Samuel 7:6 וַ/יָּצ֨וּמוּ֙ vayatsumu HC/Vqw3mp and fasted they fasted
H6684-13 1 Samuel 31:13 וַ/יָּצֻ֖מוּ vayatsumu HC/Vqw3mp and they fasted they fasted
H6684-13 2 Samuel 1:12 וַ/יָּצֻ֖מוּ vayatsumu HC/Vqw3mp and fasted they fasted
H6684-11 2 Samuel 12:16 וַ/יָּ֤צָם vayatsam HC/Vqw3ms and fasted and he fasted
H6684-06 2 Samuel 12:21 צַ֣מְתָּ tsameta HVqp2ms you fasted you fasted
H6684-08 2 Samuel 12:22 צַ֖מְתִּי tsameti HVqp1cs I fasted I fasted
H6684-04 2 Samuel 12:23 צָ֔ם tsam HVqrmsa fast fasting one
H6684-12 1 Kings 21:27 וַ/יָּצ֑וֹם vayatsom HC/Vqw3ms and fasted he fasted
H6684-05 Isaiah 58:3 צַּ֨מְנוּ֙ tsamenu HVqp1cp have we fasted we fasted
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