צוּד

tsûwd /tsood/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningalso denominative from צַיִד; to lie alongside (i.e. in wait); by implication, to catch an animal (figuratively, men); to victual (for a journey)
KJV usagechase, hunt, sore, take (provision).
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word tsûwd, represented by H6679, is a primitive root that means to hunt, chase, or take provision. It appears 18 times in 15 unique verses. The word's meaning extends from the literal act of catching an animal for food to the figurative, and often violent, pursuit of human beings. It can also refer to the act of gathering victuals for a journey.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the Bible, H6679 is used in several distinct contexts. It appears literally in the narrative of Isaac and his sons, where Isaac commands Esau to go to the field and take H6679 him some venison (Genesis 27:3, Genesis 27:5). The law in Leviticus also uses the term when giving instructions for a man who hunteth H6679 and catches a beast or fowl that may be eaten Leviticus 17:13. Figuratively, the word takes on a darker tone, describing the persecution of people. The prophet Micah laments that wicked men hunt H6679 their brothers with a net Micah 7:2, and the psalmist warns that evil will hunt H6679 the violent man Psalms 140:11. A unique usage appears in Joshua, where the Gibeonites refer to bread they took for their provision H6679 for their journey Joshua 9:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to clarify the meaning of H6679:

  • H6718 tsayid (venison, hunting, victuals): This word, from which H6679 is sometimes derived, refers to the game being hunted or the provisions obtained. It is often used in close connection, as when Esau is sent to hunt for venison H6718 Genesis 27:5.
  • H6719 tsayâd (hunter): This noun specifically identifies the one who hunts. In Jeremiah 16:16, God declares He will send for many hunters H6719 who will hunt H6679 the people of Israel as an act of judgment.
  • H5315 nephesh (soul, life, person): This word often identifies the quarry in figurative hunts. Ezekiel warns against false prophetesses who hunt the souls H5315 of God's people (Ezekiel 13:18, Ezekiel 13:20).

Theological Significance

The theological themes associated with H6679 are multifaceted, encompassing both divine provision and judgment.

  • Persecution of the Righteous: The word is frequently used to depict the unjust and relentless pursuit of individuals. The enemies of the writer of Lamentations chased H6679 him sore, like a bird, without cause Lamentations 3:52. Job, in his suffering, feels that God himself huntest H6679 him like a fierce lion Job 10:16.
  • Human Depravity: In a state of sinfulness, humanity turns on itself. Micah uses the word to describe a society where men hunt H6679 their own brothers Micah 7:2, and Proverbs warns that the adulteress will hunt H6679 for the precious life Proverbs 6:26.
  • Divine Judgment: God can employ "hunters" as instruments of His judgment. He promises to send hunters to hunt H6679 a disobedient Israel from every mountain and hill Jeremiah 16:16, signifying a comprehensive and inescapable judgment.

Summary

In summary, H6679 conveys a powerful concept of pursuit that ranges from the literal to the metaphorical. While it can describe the simple act of hunting for food or taking provisions, its most significant use in Scripture is as a metaphor for the aggressive and often malicious pursuit of human beings. It illustrates themes of persecution, the consequences of sin, and the inescapable nature of divine judgment.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 18 occurrences, inflected in 14 grammatical forms.

  • Piel Participle Plural Feminine Absolute 2×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 2×
  • Hithpael Perfect 1st Plural common gender 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 2nd Plural Feminine 1×
  • Piel Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
  • Qal Imperative 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Absolute 1×

+ 2 rarer forms

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Hithpael
Reflexive-intensive — the subject acts upon itself.
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 15 verses across 10 books. Most frequent in Genesis (3 verses).

3
Genesis
1
Leviticus
1
Joshua
2
Job
1
Psalms
1
Proverbs
1
Jeremiah
2
Lamentations
2
Ezekiel
1
Micah

Verse Explorer

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