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.
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.
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.
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.
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