צוּם

tsûwm /tsoom/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto cover over (the mouth), i.e. to fast
KJV usagefast.
Idioms & phrasesidiom at all
Copy as

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word tsûwm, represented by H6684, is a primitive root meaning to cover over the mouth, and is used to signify to fast. It appears 21 times across 17 unique verses in the Bible. The term denotes the deliberate abstention from food, often as an expression of grief, repentance, or earnest supplication before God.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H6684 is associated with moments of profound spiritual activity. It is an act of national repentance, as when Israel gathered at Mizpeh and fasted, confessing, "We have sinned against the LORD" 1 Samuel 7:6. It is also a deeply personal expression of seeking God's intervention, such as when David fasted and besought God for his child 2 Samuel 12:16, or when Esther called on the Jews to fast before she approached the king Esther 4:16. However, scripture also warns against fasting with improper motives, as God questions those who fast for strife and debate rather than to be heard by Him Isaiah 58:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words illuminate the practice and purpose of fasting:

  • H398 ʼâkal (to eat) and H8354 shâthâh (to drink): These words define the physical activities that are abstained from during a fast. This is explicitly stated in Esther's command to "neither eat nor drink three days" Esther 4:16.
  • H6031 ʻânâh (to afflict self): This term describes the internal posture that fasting is meant to produce. The people question God, "wherefore have we afflicted our soul," directly linking the act of fasting to self-humbling Isaiah 58:3.
  • H1058 bâkâh (to weep): This word for weeping is frequently paired with fasting, indicating the deep sorrow or contrition that accompanies the act. Nehemiah, upon hearing of Jerusalem's state, wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed Nehemiah 1:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6684 is significant, highlighting key aspects of one's relationship with God.

  • Repentance and Grief: Fasting serves as an outward sign of inward sorrow and repentance. King Ahab, upon hearing a divine judgment, put on sackcloth and fasted 1 Kings 21:27. Similarly, the Israelites fasted and mourned after the deaths of Saul and Jonathan 2 Samuel 1:12.
  • Earnest Supplication: The act is used to intensify prayer and seek divine favor in times of crisis. Ezra proclaimed a fast to beseech God for protection, stating, "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us" Ezra 8:23.
  • The Posture of the Heart: The prophets emphasize that the physical act of fasting is meaningless without a sincere heart. God challenges the people, asking if their fasts were truly for Him, showing that the motive behind the fast is what matters to God Zechariah 7:5.

Summary

In summary, H6684 is far more than the simple act of abstaining from food and drink. It is a powerful biblical practice used to express deep repentance, profound grief, and desperate supplication. It functions as a physical demonstration of a spiritual reality, showing humility and total dependence on God. Ultimately, the scriptures show that the value of a fast is measured not by the external observance, but by the sincerity of the heart before God.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 21 occurrences, inflected in 13 grammatical forms.

  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 5×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 2×
  • Qal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
  • Qal Perfect 2nd Plural Masculine 2×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 1st Plural common gender 1×
  • Qal Imperative 2nd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Absolute 1×
  • Qal Perfect 1st Plural common gender 1×
  • Qal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×

+ 1 rarer form

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine 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.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 17 verses across 11 books. Most frequent in 2 Samuel (5 verses).

1
Judges
2
1 Samuel
5
2 Samuel
1
1 Kings
1
1 Chronicles
1
Ezra
1
Nehemiah
1
Esther
2
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah
1
Zechariah

Verse Explorer

Select a verse to begin.