English · KJV
H6640

צְבוּ

tsᵉbûw /tseb-oo'/ Ask about this word
Root(Aramaic) from צְבָא
Meaningproperly, will; concretely, an affair (as a matter of determination)
KJV usagepurpose.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsᵉbûw — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word tsᵉbûw, represented by H6640, conveys the meaning of a purpose. Derived from a root word for "will," it concretely refers to an affair as a matter of determination. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, making its singular usage highly specific.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H6640 is in Daniel 6:17. In this narrative, after Daniel is cast into the lions' den, a stone is brought and laid upon the mouth of the den. The king then seals the stone with his own signet and the signet of his lords. The scripture explicitly states this is done so "that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel," locking in the decided course of action and making it official and seemingly irreversible.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words from the immediate context illuminate the meaning of H6640:

  • H2857 chătham (to seal): This action makes the king's purpose official. The king sealed the den to enforce his will Daniel 6:17.
  • H8133 shᵉnâʼ (to alter): This is the outcome the king seeks to prevent. The seal ensures that the purpose concerning Daniel cannot be changed Daniel 6:17.
  • H4430 melek (a king): The word is used in the context of a royal decree. It is the king who establishes and seals the purpose, demonstrating the authority behind the affair Daniel 6:17.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6640 is tied to its context of authority and unchangeable decrees.

  • Finality of a Decree: The word is used to describe a determined affair that is formally settled. The king's sealing of the den was meant to make the purpose final and prevent any interference or reversal Daniel 6:17.
  • Unalterable Intention: The phrase "that the purpose might not be changed" Daniel 6:17 directly links H6640 to the concept of an irrevocable will. It represents a decision that has been made and is now set in motion, protected from alteration by a royal seal.
  • Human Authority: The context demonstrates the power of a human king H4430 to establish a binding purpose. The narrative uses this word to underscore the gravity of the royal command that has trapped Daniel.

Summary

In summary, H6640 is a potent, if rare, Aramaic term. It denotes more than a simple idea; it signifies a determined purpose or a formally decided affair. Its singular use in scripture, tied to a king's seal and an unchangeable decree, powerfully illustrates the concept of an established will that is meant to be absolute and final.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • צְבוּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H2857 חֲתַם (Aramaic) a root corresponding to חָתַם; to seal; seal. H8133 שְׁנָא (Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁנָא; {to alter}; alter, change, (be) diverse. H4430 מֶלֶךְ (Aramaic) corresponding to מֶלֶךְ; a king; king, royal.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.