### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term צָבֶה (tsâbeh, `{{H6639}}`) is an adjective derived from the verb צָבָה (tsâbâh, `{{H6638}}`), which signifies "to swell" or "to be swollen." Thus, tsâbeh primarily denotes a state of being "swollen," "turgid," or "distended." Its core meaning emphasizes a physical enlargement or protrusion, often implying a fullness or engorgement, typically due to an internal accumulation of fluid or tissue. The semantic range is quite narrow, focusing almost exclusively on this physical phenomenon, without significant metaphorical extensions in its biblical usage. It describes a visible or palpable physical manifestation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word tsâbeh occurs exclusively in the Pentateuch, specifically within the Mosaic law, where it consistently refers to a physical swelling or distention. Its occurrences fall into two distinct contextual categories:
1. **Ritual Purity Laws (Leviticus):**
In the context of diagnosing skin diseases (often translated "leprosy," but encompassing a range of afflictions) and mildew in houses, tsâbeh describes a problematic "swelling" or "rising" on the body or walls.
* In Leviticus 13, it is a key diagnostic feature for the priest examining a person suspected of having a skin disease. For example, [[Leviticus 13:2]] states, "When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a bright spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests." The "swelling" (tsâbeh) here is a visible, external sign of potential ritual impurity. Other instances like [[Leviticus 13:10]], [[Leviticus 13:19]], [[Leviticus 13:23]], [[Leviticus 13:28]], and [[Leviticus 13:43]] reiterate this usage, always referring to a physical swelling that requires priestly examination and, often, separation.
* In Leviticus 14, tsâbeh is used to describe the "swelling" or "bulge" of mildew on the walls of a house, as seen in [[Leviticus 14:38]] and [[Leviticus 14:43]]. This physical manifestation indicates a defilement requiring ritual purification or demolition. In both skin diseases and mildew, the "swelling" signifies an unnatural growth or distention that renders the person or object ritually unclean.
2. **Ordeal of the Bitter Water (Numbers 5):**
In the unique and solemn ritual concerning a wife suspected of adultery, tsâbeh describes the physical consequence for a guilty woman. [[Numbers 5:21]], [[Numbers 5:22]], and [[Numbers 5:27]] describe the effect of the "bitter water" on the unfaithful wife: "your belly swell and your thigh rot away." Here, the "swelling" (וְצָבְתָה בִטְנֵךְ - "and your belly shall swell") is an internal, divinely inflicted physical judgment, a direct and visible manifestation of her hidden sin. This is a punitive swelling, distinct from the diagnostic swellings in Leviticus.
Across all contexts, tsâbeh consistently points to a physical anomaly, whether external and indicative of disease/defilement, or internal and indicative of divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is the verbal root from which tsâbeh is derived: צָבָה (tsâbâh, `{{H6638}}`), "to swell." This root emphasizes the action or state of becoming distended.
Other related concepts and terms include:
* **Ritual Impurity:** Terms like טָמֵא (tame', `{{H2930}}`, "unclean") and טָהוֹר (tahor, `{{H2889}}`, "clean") are central to the Levitical contexts where tsâbeh appears. The swelling is a sign of potential uncleanness.
* **Skin Afflictions:** In Leviticus 13, tsâbeh is often found alongside other descriptive terms for skin conditions, such as נֶגַע (nega', `{{H5061}}`, "plague, mark"), בַּהֶרֶת (baheret, `{{H933}}`, "bright spot"), and שְׂאֵת (se'eth, `{{H7613}}`, "rising, scab"). These terms collectively describe the visible signs that require priestly discernment.
* **Divine Judgment:** In Numbers 5, tsâbeh is linked to the consequences of sin, particularly adultery. Concepts such as אָלָה (alah, `{{H423}}`, "oath, curse") and the idea of divine retribution are strongly associated. The physical swelling serves as a tangible sign of God's direct intervention in human affairs to expose and punish sin.
* **Manifestation:** In a broader sense, tsâbeh represents a physical manifestation of an underlying reality, whether a disease process or a spiritual/moral condition.
### Theological Significance
While a simple descriptive term for a physical state, the theological significance of tsâbeh emerges powerfully from its specific biblical contexts:
1. **Divine Order and Purity:** In the Levitical purity laws, the "swelling" serves as a visible indicator of disorder and defilement within God's covenant community. God, in His absolute holiness, established meticulous laws to maintain the purity of His people and their dwelling place. The detection of a "swelling" necessitated priestly examination and, if confirmed as impurity, separation, thereby preserving the sanctity of the camp where God's presence resided. This highlights God's meticulous care for the physical and spiritual well-being of His people, and the necessity of dealing with anything that compromises holiness.
2. **God's Omniscience and Justice:** The most profound theological implication of tsâbeh is found in the ordeal of the bitter water in Numbers 5. Here, the "swelling" of the belly is not merely a symptom but a divinely orchestrated judgment. It is God's direct intervention to expose hidden sin and confirm the truth. This demonstrates God's omniscience – His ability to know the secrets of the heart – and His unwavering justice. The physical consequence serves as a terrifying deterrent against unfaithfulness and a powerful witness to God's righteous governance over His people. It underscores the principle that sin, even when hidden, has real and often tangible consequences ordained by a just God.
3. **Physical Consequences of Spiritual Realities:** In both contexts, tsâbeh illustrates a biblical truth that spiritual or moral conditions can manifest in physical ways. In Leviticus, physical disease could render one ritually unclean, impacting their relationship with the community and God. In Numbers, a spiritual failure (adultery) results in a severe physical consequence. This connection between the physical and spiritual realms is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing the holistic nature of humanity before God.
### Summary
The Hebrew word צָבֶה (tsâbeh, `{{H6639}}`) denotes a "swelling" or "turgid" state, a physical distention or enlargement. Its biblical occurrences are limited to the Pentateuch, primarily within the ritual purity laws of Leviticus and the ordeal of the bitter water in Numbers. In Leviticus, tsâbeh describes external swellings on the body (indicating skin diseases) or on house walls (indicating mildew), serving as diagnostic signs of ritual impurity that necessitated priestly examination and separation. In Numbers 5, the "swelling" of a woman's belly is a divinely ordained, internal physical judgment, a direct consequence and visible manifestation of hidden unfaithfulness. Theologically, tsâbeh underscores God's meticulous concern for the purity and order of His covenant people, His omniscience and unwavering justice in exposing hidden sin, and the profound connection between spiritual realities and their potential physical consequences.
TRV