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בִּזָּה

𐤁𐤆𐤄

bizzâh

H961 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בזז to plunder, seize by force, despoil

Definition

Material goods, property, or valuables seized by force, typically in the context of military conquest or plundering. The term refers especially to objects, livestock, or goods taken from defeated peoples or cities, and can encompass a wide range of confiscated items depending on context. Used as a collective noun for spoil or booty acquired in war, bizzâh may also extend to objects looted in non-combat situations.

Semantic Range

booty from war, material spoils, goods taken as plunder, loot, property seized through force, collective spoils after victory, items confiscated under official decree

Root / Etymology

From the root בזז (bazaz), meaning 'to plunder, spoil, seize by force.' בִּזָּה (bizzâh) is the feminine noun form signifying the result of plundering—i.e., the goods taken as spoils or booty. Strongly related to the masculine noun בַּז (baz), which also means 'plunder' or 'spoils.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, בִּזָּה is frequently used to describe the spoils captured after military victories (e.g., Gen 34:27, Exod 12:36, Num 31:32-53) and is often paired with verbs indicating seizing or taking. The term appears across both early and later biblical texts, indicating its persistent association with warfare and conquest. Unlike רְכֻשׁ (rekhush), which can refer to property or possessions more broadly, בִּזָּה specifically connotes goods taken by force, implying a transfer of ownership through violence rather than legal or peaceful means. In post-exilic texts (e.g., Esther), it maintains this meaning, but there can be an added nuance of legal seizure sanctioned by decree. English 'spoil' captures much but not all of the Hebrew nuance; 'loot' and 'booty' are also used, but 'bizzâh' carries no inherent connotation of illegitimacy—its moral valence depends on narrative context. Later usage, especially in translation traditions (e.g., Septuagint LXX: σκῦλα), sometimes flattens distinctions between terms for plunder. Notably, in the Esther narrative, restraint from taking the בִּזָּה is highlighted as an important ethical marker.

Translation Consistency

primary "plunder" 10 occurrences

The dominant renderings in the data use forms of “plunder,” and this word naturally conveys the forced seizure of goods in war or conquest. It works well as a noun or verb in everyday English, matches the typical biblical sense of booty/spoils taken by force, and avoids the ambiguity of words like “spoil” (which can mean ‘ruin’). Using “plunder” ensures consistent, natural wording across all forms of H961.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of בַּז; booty; prey, spoil.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בזז (b-z-z) — plunder, seize by force, despoil

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H936 בּוּז plunder
H957 בַּז plunder
H962 בָּזַז we plundered

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H961-04 וּ/בַ֨/בִּזָּ֔ה uvabizah HC/Rd/Ncfsa but on the plunder and in the plundered goods and in the plunder 4
H961-01 בִּזָּ֧ה bizah HNcfsa spoil her plundered goods her plundered goods 2
H961-05 וּ/בְ/בִזָּ֖ה uvevizah HC/R/Ncfsa and-by-plunder and in plundered goods and by plunder 1
H961-03 לְ/בִזָּ֖ה levizah HR/Ncfsa up to spoiling for plundered goods for plundered goods 1
H961-06 בִזָּ֥ה vizah HNcfsa spoil plundered goods plundered goods 1
H961-02 הַ/בִּזָּ֔ה habizah HTd/Ncfsa spoil the plundered goods the plundered goods 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H961-04 Esther 9:10 וּ/בַ֨/בִּזָּ֔ה uvabizah HC/Rd/Ncfsa but on the plunder and in the plundered goods and in the plunder
H961-04 Esther 9:15 וּ/בַ֨/בִּזָּ֔ה uvabizah HC/Rd/Ncfsa but on the plunder and in the plundered goods and in the plunder
H961-04 Esther 9:16 וּ/בַ֨/בִּזָּ֔ה uvabizah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and-in-the-plunder and in the plundered goods and in the plunder
H961-01 Daniel 11:24 בִּזָּ֧ה bizah HNcfsa plunder her plundered goods her plundered goods
H961-05 Daniel 11:33 וּ/בְ/בִזָּ֖ה uvevizah HC/R/Ncfsa and-by-plunder and in plundered goods and by plunder
H961-04 Ezra 9:7 וּ/בַ/בִּזָּ֛ה uvabizah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and to plunder and in the plundered goods and in the plunder
H961-03 Nehemiah 3:36 לְ/בִזָּ֖ה levizah HR/Ncfsa up to spoiling for plundered goods for plundered goods
H961-06 2 Chronicles 14:13 בִזָּ֥ה vizah HNcfsa spoil plundered goods plundered goods
H961-01 2 Chronicles 25:13 בִּזָּ֥ה bizah HNcfsa spoil her plundered goods her plundered goods
H961-02 2 Chronicles 28:14 הַ/בִּזָּ֔ה habizah HTd/Ncfsa spoil the plundered goods the plundered goods
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