עָצַב

ʻâtsab /aw-tsab'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root · properly, to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion
Meaninghence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger
KJV usagedisplease, grieve, hurt, make, be sorry, vex, worship, wrest.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻâtsab, represented by H6087, is a primitive root with a dual meaning. It can refer to the physical act of carving or fashioning, but more often it describes a deep emotional state of worry, pain, anger, or grief. It appears 17 times in 17 unique verses, conveying feelings of displeasure, hurt, sorrow, and vexation, and can even refer to the act of worship through fashioned objects.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H6087 describes the profound grief of both God and man. The Lord was grieved in His heart that He had made man on the earth before the flood Genesis 6:6. Similarly, Israel's rebellion in the wilderness vexed His holy Spirit Isaiah 63:10. The word also portrays human sorrow, as when Jonathan was grieved for David 1 Samuel 20:34, and when David himself was grieved over the death of his son 2 Samuel 19:2. In a different sense, the word is used for physical action, such as when Job states God's hands have made him Job 10:8, or when enemies wrest the psalmist's words Psalms 56:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words explore the spectrum of emotions connected to grief and vexation:

  • H2304 chedvâh (gladness, joy): As an antonym, this term stands in direct contrast to sorrow. The people of Israel are told not to be sorry H6087 because the joy of the LORD is their strength Nehemiah 8:10.
  • H2734 chârâh (to be angry, burn, be displeased): This word often appears alongside H6087 to describe intense emotional distress. Joseph tells his brothers not to be grieved H6087 or angry H2734 with themselves for selling him into slavery Genesis 45:5.
  • H4784 mârâh (to rebel, provoke): This term describes the action that often leads to the grief or vexation of H6087. The Bible states that the Israelites rebelled H4784 and vexed H6087 God's Holy Spirit Isaiah 63:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6087 is significant, revealing the personal and relational nature of God.

  • Divine Pathos: The application of H6087 to God shows that He is not impassive but is emotionally affected by human actions. Sin and rebellion cause Him genuine grief and vexation, as seen in the narratives of the flood and the wilderness wanderings (Genesis 6:6, Psalms 78:40).
  • The Pain of Creation: The word's dual meaning of "to fashion" and "to grieve" creates a powerful theological link. This is evident when Job laments that the same hands that made H6087 him are now destroying him Job 10:8. It also reflects God's own sorrow over the state of His creation.
  • The Cause of Grief: Scripture links H6087 directly to evil and sin. The prayer of Jabez asks to be kept from evil H7451 so that it would not grieve H6087 him 1 Chronicles 4:10. This establishes that sorrow and pain are direct consequences of evil in the world.

Summary

In summary, H6087 is a multifaceted word that bridges the concepts of creation and sorrow. It moves from the tangible act of fashioning an object to the intangible, deep pain of a grieved heart. Used to describe the feelings of both humanity and God, ʻâtsab powerfully illustrates how sin and rebellion introduce vexation and pain into relationships, ultimately showing the profound emotional cost of evil on the heart of the Creator Himself.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 17 occurrences, inflected in 12 grammatical forms.

  • Niphal Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 3×
  • Niphal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Niphal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Piel Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 2×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Hithpael Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Hithpael Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Qal Participle Passive Singular Feminine Construct 1×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Passive
The subject is acted upon.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Hithpael
Reflexive-intensive — the subject acts upon itself.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 17 verses across 11 books. Most frequent in Genesis (3 verses).

3
Genesis
2
1 Samuel
1
2 Samuel
1
1 Kings
1
1 Chronicles
2
Nehemiah
1
Job
2
Psalms
1
Ecclesiastes
2
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah

Verse Explorer

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