Word Study for H6089 (עֶצֶב) | Strong's Concordance

ʻetseb /eh'-tseb/ Ask about this word

Meaningan earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind)

KJV usagegrievous, idol, labor, sorrow.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻetseb — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻetseb, represented by H6089, conveys concepts of painful toil, pangs, and sorrow. It appears 7 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is diverse, encompassing not only mental and physical distress but also extending to describe grievous words, the results of labor, and even an idol.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H6089 is used to articulate different forms of hardship and worthlessness. It is introduced in the curse upon woman, where she is told she will bring forth children in sorrow Genesis 3:16. The word is also applied to communication, where grievous words are shown to stir up anger Proverbs 15:1. In a different context, it describes the futility of anxious work as "the bread of sorrows" Psalms 127:2. The term can refer to the product of physical exertion, as in the labour that yields profit Proverbs 14:23 or the labours that risk being lost to a stranger Proverbs 5:10. Finally, it is used to describe a despised and broken idol, questioning the value of a king Jeremiah 22:28.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the dimensions of pain, futility, and value associated with H6089:

H6093 ʻitstsâbôwn (sorrow, toil): Appearing in the same verse as H6089, this word reinforces the theme of "sorrow" and "worrisomeness" as a direct consequence of the fall Genesis 3:16.
H7723 shâvᵉʼ (vain, vanity): This term is used to describe the effort of eating the "bread of sorrows" H6089 as ultimately vain or useless, highlighting toil that lacks divine blessing Psalms 127:2.
H959 bâzâh (despise): This root is used to describe the "idol" H6089 in Jeremiah 22:28 as despised, connecting the idea of idolatry with contempt and rejection.
H5310 nâphats (dash to pieces, scatter): In the same passage, this word describes the idol H6089 as broken, linking it to a state of being shattered and destroyed Jeremiah 22:28.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6089 is evident in its application to core biblical themes.

The Curse of Toil: The word is first used to define the pain of childbirth as a direct result of disobedience in the garden, establishing sorrowful labor as a consequence of the fall Genesis 3:16.
The Nature of Labor: Scripture contrasts productive labour that leads to profit Proverbs 14:23 with anxious toil for the "bread of sorrows," which is depicted as vain Psalms 127:2. This distinguishes blessed work from fruitless human effort.
The Futility of Idolatry: By using H6089 to describe King Coniah as a "despised broken idol," the text makes a powerful statement about the worthlessness of a leader or object of trust that has been rejected by God Jeremiah 22:28.
Contrast with Divine Blessing: A key principle is established in Proverbs, which states that the blessing of the LORD makes one rich and adds no sorrow with it, clearly separating God's provision from the painful toil that characterizes a cursed world Proverbs 10:22.

Summary

In summary, H6089 is a multifaceted term that extends beyond simple sorrow. It serves as a cornerstone for understanding biblical concepts of pain, labor, and value. Its use ranges from the physical pangs of childbirth and the fruits of toil to the emotional sting of grievous words and the ultimate worthlessness of a broken idol. Through this word, scripture illustrates the profound consequences of the fall, the distinction between blessed and vain labor, and the futility of placing trust in anything outside of God's blessing.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 7 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

עֶצֶב
עֲצָבִים
עֲצָבֶי

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 7 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (4 verses); never once in the other 35.

Genesis

Psalms

Proverbs

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.