from עָצַב; worrisomeness, i.e. labor or pain; sorrow, toil.
Transliteration:ʻitstsâbôwn
Pronunciation:its-tsaw-bone'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun ʻitstsâbôwn (`{{H6093}}`) is derived from the root ʻātsab (`{{H6087}}`), which carries the fundamental meaning of "to cause pain, grief, or vexation." While the root can also denote the act of "forming" or "carving" (suggesting laborious effort), ʻitstsâbôwn specifically encapsulates the concepts of "pain," "sorrow," "toil," and "labor," invariably with an underlying sense of hardship or distress. It describes not merely effort, but effort accompanied by difficulty, affliction, and often, sorrow. Its semantic range thus extends from the physical strain and weariness associated with arduous work to the emotional anguish and burdensome nature of a life lived under duress.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ʻitstsâbôwn (`{{H6093}}`) appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, but its few occurrences are highly significant, primarily concentrated in the foundational narratives of Genesis concerning the consequences of the Fall.
* **[[Genesis 3:16]]**: "To the woman He said, 'I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.'" Here, ʻitstsâbôwn describes the "pain" or "sorrow" associated with childbirth. This is presented as a direct, divinely-ordained consequence of Eve's disobedience, transforming what might have been a joyful process into one fraught with suffering and anguish.
* **[[Genesis 3:17]]**: "And to Adam He said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, "You shall not eat of it," cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.'" For Adam, ʻitstsâbôwn refers to the "pain" or "toil" involved in cultivating the cursed ground. It signifies the arduous, burdensome labor required to extract sustenance, standing in stark contrast to the effortless provision in Eden. It underscores the inherent hardship and struggle now embedded in human existence and the pursuit of livelihood.
* **[[Genesis 5:29]]**: "He called his name Noah, saying, 'Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.'" In this verse, ʻitstsâbôwn again describes the "painful toil" or "sorrowful labor" of human hands in cultivating the ground. Lamech names his son Noah (a name related to "rest" or "comfort") in anticipation that Noah will bring relief from this very ʻitstsâbôwn. This highlights the pervasive and generational nature of this cursed toil, which burdened humanity for centuries.
In each instance, ʻitstsâbôwn is directly linked to the divine judgment following the Fall, serving as a tangible manifestation of the curse upon humanity and the ground. It consistently denotes labor or experience accompanied by inherent difficulty, sorrow, or punitive pain, rather than neutral effort.
### Related Words & Concepts
ʻitstsâbôwn (`{{H6093}}`) exists within a semantic field of words describing hardship and labor in the Hebrew Bible:
* **ʻātsab (`{{H6087}}`):** The root verb from which ʻitstsâbôwn is derived. It means "to grieve," "to hurt," or "to vex." The noun ʻetsev (`{{H6089}}`), also from this root, means "pain," "sorrow," or "labor." ʻitstsâbôwn can be seen as a specific, often intensified, manifestation of the suffering inherent in ʻātsab.
* **yāgaʻ (`{{H3021}}`):** This verb often translates to "to toil," "to labor," or "to grow weary." While similar in denoting hard work, yāgaʻ primarily emphasizes the physical exertion and fatigue, whereas ʻitstsâbôwn carries a stronger connotation of the *pain* or *sorrow* accompanying that toil, often in a punitive or burdensome sense.
* **āmāl (`{{H5999}}`):** This term signifies "toil," "trouble," "misery," or "hardship." It frequently appears in the book of Ecclesiastes to describe the burdensome and often futile nature of human labor "under the sun." Like ʻitstsâbôwn, āmāl emphasizes the difficult and often unrewarding aspect of work in a fallen world.
* **tseʻer (`{{H6869}}`):** Meaning "pain" or "distress," this word also describes suffering, but typically without the specific emphasis on laborious effort or toil that ʻitstsâbôwn carries.
These related terms collectively paint a comprehensive picture of the human condition post-Fall, characterized by various forms of hardship, physical exertion, and emotional distress. ʻitstsâbôwn specifically ties these elements to the divine curse pronounced upon labor and procreation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ʻitstsâbôwn (`{{H6093}}`) is profound, as it directly articulates a core consequence of the Fall and the altered nature of human existence under sin.
* **The Manifestation of the Curse:** ʻitstsâbôwn serves as a tangible and deeply personal expression of God's curse upon humanity and the creation. For the woman, it transforms the blessed act of childbearing into a process of pain; for the man, it transforms the stewardship of the earth into arduous, painful toil. This word underscores that the Fall did not merely introduce abstract concepts of sin and death, but fundamentally altered the very fabric of human experience, transforming what might have been joyful activities into arduous struggles.
* **Redefinition of Labor and Procreation:** Prior to the Fall, labor (e.g., tending the Garden, [[Genesis 2:15]]) and procreation were presumably effortless or characterized by joy. ʻitstsâbôwn signifies their transformation into activities fraught with difficulty, pain, and sorrow. This highlights the profound disruption of God's original good creation and the perversion of human purposes.
* **Humanity's Bondage to Toil:** The recurring use of ʻitstsâbôwn in Genesis 3 and 5 emphasizes that this painful toil became an inescapable part of the human condition, passed down through generations. It speaks to humanity's ongoing struggle against the effects of the curse, a struggle that often feels burdensome, exhaustive, and unrewarding.
* **Anticipation of Redemption:** While ʻitstsâbôwn vividly describes the problem of the curse, its mention in [[Genesis 5:29]] (Lamech's hope in Noah) subtly hints at a deep human longing for relief and ultimate redemption from this pervasive toil. This foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ, who, through his suffering and death, offers deliverance from the curse and the painful toil it entails, leading to a future where "there will be no more curse" ([[Revelation 22:3]]) and all ʻitstsâbôwn will cease.
### Summary
ʻitstsâbôwn (`{{H6093}}`) is a significant Hebrew noun derived from ʻātsab (`{{H6087}}`), denoting "pain," "sorrow," "toil," or "labor," specifically when accompanied by hardship or distress. Its limited but crucial occurrences in the biblical narrative are primarily found in Genesis 3 and 5, where it directly describes the consequences of the Fall. For the woman, it signifies the "pain" of childbirth ([[Genesis 3:16]]); for the man, it signifies the "pain" or "toil" of laboring the cursed ground for sustenance ([[Genesis 3:17]], [[Genesis 5:29]]). Theologically, ʻitstsâbôwn serves as a powerful descriptor of the divine curse manifesting in human experience, transforming natural processes like procreation and labor into burdensome struggles. It highlights humanity's post-Fall existence marked by arduous effort and sorrow, while also subtly pointing to the deep human longing for relief and ultimate redemption from this pervasive toil.
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