### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsâbeh**, represented by `{{H6639}}`, means to be **turgid** or to **swell**. Derived from the root צָבָה, this term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in the entire Bible, within a single, specific verse. Its singular usage highlights a very particular physical condition invoked as part of a divine curse.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H6639}}` is in the context of a ritual administered by a priest `{{H3548}}` known as the "oath of cursing" [[Numbers 5:21]]. In this passage, a woman `{{H802}}` under suspicion is subjected to an oath `{{H7621}}` before the LORD `{{H3068}}`. The priest pronounces that if she is guilty, God will make her a curse `{{H423}}` among her people `{{H5971}}` by causing her "belly `{{H990}}` to **swell** `{{H6639}}`" and her thigh to rot `{{H5307}}`. The swelling, therefore, serves as the physical evidence of divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller understanding of the context surrounding `{{H6639}}`:
* `{{H990}}` **beṭen** (belly, womb): This is the part of the body that is said to swell `{{H6639}}`. It is frequently associated with origin and life, as seen in God's declaration, "Before I formed thee in the **belly** I knew thee" [[Jeremiah 1:5]].
* `{{H423}}` **ʼâlâh** (curse, imprecation): This word establishes the reason for the swelling. The physical affliction is the direct result of a divinely enacted **curse**. The term is used to describe widespread judgment, as in, "This is the **curse** that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth" [[Zechariah 5:3]].
* `{{H5307}}` **nâphal** (to fall): In [[Numbers 5:21]], this word is used to describe the thigh rotting, functioning as a parallel consequence to the belly swelling. In its broader usage, it means to **fall**, conveying a sense of ruin or collapse, as promised to the righteous: "Though he **fall**, he shall not be utterly cast down" [[Psalms 37:24]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H6639}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful use:
* **Physical Sign of Divine Verdict:** The swelling is not a random illness but a specific sign from the LORD `{{H3068}}` to make a hidden truth public. The body becomes the carrier of a divine sentence pronounced by the priest `{{H3548}}`.
* **Consequence of Oaths:** The word is invoked within a solemn oath `{{H7621}}` and curse `{{H423}}`. This demonstrates the weight of sworn words and the belief that God directly enforces the terms of such binding declarations.
* **Community Judgment:** The curse, including the physical swelling, is intended to make the woman an example "among thy people" `{{H5971}}`, illustrating the communal implications of sin and the importance of ritual purity and justice within Israel.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6639}}` is a highly specific term whose meaning is inseparable from its singular context in [[Numbers 5:21]]. While its definition is simply to "swell," its biblical application is profound, representing the physical manifestation of a divine curse. It serves as a stark reminder of the link between ritual, law, and divine judgment, where the human body itself could become the evidence of God's verdict in a legal proceeding.
TRV