a primitive root; properly, to fasten (or make firm), i.e. to close (the eyes); shut.
Transliteration:ʻâtsâh
Pronunciation:aw-tsaw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H6095}}` (ʻâtsâh) is a primitive verb primarily conveying the sense of "to fasten" or "to make firm," which extends semantically to "to close" or "to shut." Its most prominent usage in the biblical text is in relation to the eyes, denoting a deliberate and firm closure. This is not a mere blinking, but an active act of shutting, suggesting intent and purpose. The fundamental idea of "firmness" or "fastening" underlies the act of closing, implying a decisive and often irreversible action in its specific contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of `{{H6095}}` are relatively few, yet each instance carries significant weight, primarily appearing in the Hiphil stem, which denotes causation or active engagement.
1. **[[Proverbs 16:30]]**: "He who winks his eye plans perverse things; he who presses his lips brings evil to pass."
* Here, "winks" (or "shuts" in many translations) translates `{{H6095}}`. The action of shutting the eye is a non-verbal cue, a conspiratorial signal associated with plotting evil and devising mischief. It is an active, deliberate gesture that betrays an inner malevolent intention, a silent communication among those engaged in wickedness.
2. **[[Isaiah 33:15]]**: "He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil."
* In this prophetic description of the righteous man, `{{H6095}}` describes a moral act of self-restraint. The righteous individual actively "shuts his eyes" from beholding evil, particularly acts of violence or morally corrupting sights. This is a deliberate turning away, an intentional refusal to participate in or even witness that which is anathema to God. It highlights a proactive pursuit of holiness through the control of one's senses.
3. **[[Psalm 69:23]]**: "Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually."
* This verse presents a different nuance. Here, the Hiphil form of `{{H6095}}` is used in an imprecation, a prayer for divine judgment upon the wicked. The plea is that their eyes be "darkened" or "dimmed" so they are unable to see. Unlike the active shutting of the eyes in Proverbs and Isaiah, this is a passive state inflicted upon the wicked, a divine judgment that hinders their perception and understanding. It signifies a punitive spiritual blindness, a consequence of their unrighteousness.
These contexts reveal a spectrum: the active shutting of eyes for malicious intent (Proverbs), the active shutting for moral purity (Isaiah), and the passive, divinely-imposed dimming of eyes as judgment (Psalm).
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary semantic field related to `{{H6095}}` revolves around sight, perception, and the deliberate control or loss thereof.
* **`{{H5869}}` (ʻayin)**: The most common Hebrew word for "eye," the organ through which sight and perception occur. The actions of `{{H6095}}` directly involve the ʻayin.
* **`{{H7200}}` (ra'ah)**: To see, perceive, understand. The act of shutting the eyes (`{{H6095}}`) is a deliberate cessation or prevention of ra'ah.
* **`{{H5462}}` (sāgar)**: A more general term for "to shut" or "to close" (e.g., a door, a mouth). While broader, it shares the core concept of bringing something to a closed state.
* **Spiritual Blindness**: The concept of not seeing or understanding spiritual truth, often as a divine judgment or a consequence of sin, resonates strongly with the usage in [[Psalm 69:23]]. This connects to broader biblical themes of the "eyes of the heart" (e.g., [[Ephesians 1:18]]) and the ability to discern truth.
* **Moral Choice and Purity**: The use in [[Isaiah 33:15]] highlights the active choice to guard one's senses from evil, aligning with concepts of holiness and ethical living.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H6095}}` lies in its connection to moral agency, spiritual perception, and divine judgment.
1. **Moral Responsibility**: The active shutting of the eyes in [[Proverbs 16:30]] and [[Isaiah 33:15]] underscores human moral responsibility. One can choose to shut one's eyes to plot evil, or one can choose to shut them to avoid evil. This highlights the ethical dimension of what one allows oneself to behold and how one uses one's physical faculties for good or ill. The eye, as a gateway to the soul, becomes a significant locus for moral decision-making.
2. **Spiritual Discernment vs. Blindness**: The righteous individual, as depicted in Isaiah, actively cultivates spiritual discernment by refusing to gaze upon evil. This is an act of spiritual discipline. Conversely, the imprecation in Psalm 69 reveals that God can inflict spiritual blindness as a form of judgment, preventing the wicked from perceiving truth or enjoying light. This illustrates God's sovereignty over human perception and understanding, making it clear that true sight, both physical and spiritual, is ultimately a gift from Him.
3. **Divine Justice**: The use of `{{H6095}}` in a context of divine judgment (Psalm 69) emphasizes God's justice. Those who deliberately choose to walk in darkness or plot evil may ultimately have their capacity for sight, both literal and metaphorical, diminished or removed by divine decree, leading to their downfall.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H6095}}` (ʻâtsâh) fundamentally means "to fasten" or "to make firm," extending to the deliberate act of "shutting," particularly the eyes. Its sparse but potent occurrences in the Old Testament reveal a nuanced semantic range: it can denote a conspiratorial closure of the eye signaling malicious intent ([[Proverbs 16:30]]); a righteous and deliberate refusal to behold evil, indicative of moral purity ([[Isaiah 33:15]]); or a divinely-imposed dimming or darkening of the eyes as a consequence of wickedness, signifying judgment and spiritual blindness ([[Psalm 69:23]]). The word thus carries significant theological weight, underscoring human moral agency in choosing what to see or ignore, and God's sovereign power to grant or withdraw the capacity for true perception as an act of justice.
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