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צָנַע

𐤑𐤍𐤏

tsânaʻ

H6800 verb

SILEX Entry

Root צנע to be restrained, to be modest, to be humble in bearing

Definition

To walk carefully or modestly, to conduct oneself with humility or reserve. In its primary usage, denotes a manner of walking or living characterized by restraint, modesty, and a conscious avoidance of arrogance or ostentation. May also refer more broadly to the adoption of a humble attitude or demeanor before others or in one's relationship with the divine.

Semantic Range

to walk or conduct oneself humbly, to act with modesty or restraint, to live unassumingly; in later Hebrew: to be discreet, to be reserved

Root / Etymology

Root צנע (ts-n-ʻ), which in post-biblical Hebrew and later Semitic languages conveys the sense of being modest, hidden, or reserved. The core idea of the root is restraint or withholding, often applied metaphorically to behaviors or attitudes such as modesty and humility. The verb's particular sense of 'to walk humbly/modestly' emerges from this root idea of keeping oneself restrained or unassuming.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In its sole biblical occurrence (Micah 6:8), צָנַע (tsanaʻ) is used in the phrase "to walk humbly with your God," encouraging a mode of living marked by modesty and quiet restraint, particularly in a covenantal or religious context. The meaning here is not 'to humiliate' in the sense of afflicting or abasing oneself, but rather to behave with humility, in contrast to prideful or ostentatious behavior. Later rabbinic Hebrew developed the sense further to refer to modesty, privacy, and discretion, especially regarding conduct and dress. Unlike the related verb עָנָה (ʻanah, 'to afflict, humble, answer'), צָנַע emphasizes an inward, voluntary humility rather than outward subjection or humiliation. Standard English translations often render the term as 'to walk humbly,' which well captures its nuance in context. The sense 'to humiliate' does not reflect biblical usage and seems to arise from later misunderstanding of the root.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to humiliate; humbly, lowly.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צנע (ts-n-ʿ) — restraint, modesty, humble bearing

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6800-02 וְ/הַצְנֵ֥עַ vehatsenea HC/Vha humbly and to conduct oneself modestly 1
H6800-01 צְנוּעִ֥ים tsenuim HAampa the humble restrained ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6800-02 Micah 6:8 וְ/הַצְנֵ֥עַ vehatsenea HC/Vha humbly and to conduct oneself modestly
H6800-01 Proverbs 11:2 צְנוּעִ֥ים tsenuim HAampa the humble restrained ones
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