from יָצָא; issue, i.e. (human) excrement; that (which) cometh from (out).
Transliteration:tsâʼâh
Pronunciation:tsaw-aw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H6627}}` (צָאָה, *tsâʼâh*) is a noun derived from the verb `{{H3318}}` (יָצָא, *yatsaʼ*), meaning "to go out" or "to come forth." This etymological connection is crucial, as `{{H6627}}` specifically refers to something that "issues forth" or "comes out" from the body. Its primary and consistent meaning in biblical usage is "human excrement" or "filth." The semantic range is therefore quite narrow and concrete, focusing on bodily waste, particularly feces. This term inherently carries connotations of impurity, defilement, and degradation due to the nature of the substance it denotes.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H6627}}` appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, but each instance is highly impactful, conveying strong negative connotations:
* **[[Isaiah 28:8]]**: "For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness (`{{H6627}}`), so that there is no place clean." Here, `{{H6627}}` is paired with "vomit," painting a vivid picture of extreme moral and physical defilement among the drunken priests and prophets of Ephraim. It signifies utter spiritual decay and a complete lack of purity or reverence, making their places of instruction and worship utterly unclean.
* **[[2 Kings 18:27]]** / **[[Isaiah 36:12]]**: In these parallel accounts of Rabshakeh's taunt to the people of Jerusalem during the siege by Sennacherib, he declares, "Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who are sitting on the wall, who will eat their own dung (`{{H6627}}`) and drink their own urine with you?" This is a profoundly humiliating and terrifying statement, designed to break the morale of the besieged. The mention of consuming one's own excrement and urine graphically depicts the horrific conditions of extreme famine, destitution, and the ultimate degradation that awaits them if they resist.
* **[[Ezekiel 4:12]]**: "And you shall eat it as barley cakes, and you shall bake it with human dung (`{{H6627}}`) in their sight." This command to Ezekiel is part of his symbolic act portraying the siege and famine that Jerusalem will endure. The use of human excrement as fuel for baking emphasizes the extreme scarcity of resources and the defilement of food, illustrating the dire and impure conditions that will befall the inhabitants due to their disobedience. It underscores the severity of God's judgment, forcing His prophet and, by extension, His people, into a state of ritual and physical uncleanness.
Across these occurrences, `{{H6627}}` consistently functions as a powerful descriptor of defilement, humiliation, and the dire consequences of divine judgment, often linked to extreme physical suffering and social degradation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for `{{H6627}}` is its root verb, `{{H3318}}` (יָצָא, *yatsaʼ*), "to go out, come forth." This relationship highlights the nature of excrement as something expelled from the body. Conceptually, `{{H6627}}` is closely related to:
* **Uncleanness and Impurity**: The broader biblical concepts of טָמֵא (ṭāmēʼ, "unclean") and נִדָּה (niddah, "impurity" or "menstrual impurity"). While `{{H6627}}` is not explicitly a term within the Levitical purity laws, the substance it denotes is inherently impure and renders anything it touches defiled, aligning with the general principles of ritual and moral uncleanness.
* **Shame and Humiliation**: Words like בּוּשׁ (bûsh, "to be ashamed") or קָלָל (qālāl, "to be light, despised"). The contexts in Isaiah and 2 Kings particularly underscore the use of `{{H6627}}` as a means of inflicting profound shame and stripping away dignity.
* **Judgment and Consequence**: Terms related to divine retribution or the results of sin, as the presence and use of `{{H6627}}` in these passages are direct manifestations of severe judgment.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H6627}}` is profound, despite its limited occurrences:
* **Symbol of Utter Defilement**: `{{H6627}}` represents the epitome of physical and, by extension, spiritual defilement. Its presence signifies a state of extreme impurity, rendering objects, places, or even people unfit for sacred purposes or the presence of a holy God. In Isaiah, it speaks to the moral depravity of the leadership, whose spiritual "tables" are as polluted as literal ones.
* **Consequence of Sin and Rebellion**: In Ezekiel, the use of `{{H6627}}` for baking illustrates the severe consequences of Israel's persistent sin and rebellion against God. It signifies a complete breakdown of order and dignity, a graphic portrayal of the curse of the covenant (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 28:53-57]]). The people are reduced to a state of abject degradation, a direct result of their turning away from the Lord.
* **Loss of Human Dignity**: The taunt of Rabshakeh (2 Kings/Isaiah) weaponizes `{{H6627}}` to strip the besieged of their humanity and dignity. To be forced to consume one's own waste is the ultimate humiliation, a stark reminder of the fragile nature of human existence when divine favor is withdrawn or when under severe oppression. It highlights the vulnerability of humanity when stripped of all resources and hope.
* **Contrast with Holiness**: The very existence and description of `{{H6627}}` stand in stark opposition to the holiness, purity, and order that characterize God's nature and His ideal for humanity. It serves as a visceral reminder of the depth of human fallenness and the necessity of cleansing and restoration.
### Summary
`{{H6627}}` (צָאָה, *tsâʼâh*) is a potent Hebrew term for "human excrement," derived from the verb "to come forth." Though infrequent, its occurrences in Isaiah, 2 Kings, and Ezekiel are highly significant. It consistently functions as a graphic symbol of extreme defilement, utter humiliation, and the dire consequences of divine judgment. The word vividly portrays the degradation, destitution, and impurity that result from sin and rebellion, serving as a stark contrast to God's holiness and a powerful reminder of the depths of human suffering when separated from divine grace.
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