### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma צוּת (tsûwth, `{{H6702}}`) is identified as a primitive root, signifying a fundamental and uncompounded meaning. Its core semantic range centers on the actions of "to blaze" and "to burn." This implies an active, intense, and often rapid process involving fire. The nuance of "blaze" suggests brightness, intensity, and a vigorous combustion, while "burn" is a broader term encompassing the destructive or transformative effects of fire. As a primitive root, צוּת conveys a direct and unmediated sense of fiery action, distinct from more derived or complex terms for fire.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word צוּת (tsûwth, `{{H6702}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in [[Isaiah 44:15]]. The form used is וַיַּצִּית (wayyaṣṣît), which is a Hiphil perfect 3rd person masculine singular. The Hiphil stem typically denotes a causative action, thus translating as "he causes to blaze," "he kindles," or "he sets on fire."
The full verse reads: "Then it becomes fuel for a man's fire, and he takes some of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread; he also makes a god and worships it. He makes it an idol and bows down to it." The immediate context is a scathing prophetic critique of idolatry in [[Isaiah 44:9-20]]. The prophet Isaiah sarcastically exposes the absurdity of worshipping idols made from wood, which is simultaneously used for mundane purposes like fuel for warmth or baking. The act of "kindling" (צוּת) the fire is a common, everyday human activity, emphasizing the utterly ordinary and created nature of the material from which the idol is fashioned. This stark juxtaposition highlights the folly and spiritual blindness of those who elevate a mere product of human hands and natural resources to divine status. The single occurrence is therefore strategically placed to underscore the central theological argument against idolatry.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of fire and burning is pervasive in the Hebrew Bible, leading to several related terms and semantic fields:
* `{{H1197}}` בָּעַר (bāʿar): To burn, consume, kindle. This root is frequently used for the burning of sacrifices, the consumption of objects by fire, and the kindling of a flame. It shares a close semantic range with צוּת in the sense of kindling.
* `{{H3344}}` יָצַת (yāṣat): To kindle, burn, set on fire. This root is very similar in meaning and often used for setting things ablaze, whether intentionally or accidentally. Some scholars consider צוּת to be a phonetic or semantic variant of יָצַת.
* `{{H8313}}` שָׂרַף (śārap̄): To burn completely, consume by fire. This root often carries a connotation of destruction or thorough consumption, as in the burning of cities or waste.
* `{{H2787}}` חָרַר (ḥārar): To glow, be hot, scorch. This focuses more on the heat and effect of fire.
Beyond specific words, צוּת is conceptually linked to themes of human ingenuity and labor, the utility of creation, and the profound contrast between the created and the Creator.
### Theological Significance
Despite its singular appearance, the theological weight of צוּת (tsûwth, `{{H6702}}`) in [[Isaiah 44:15]] is considerable. Its use in the context of kindling a fire for mundane purposes (warmth, baking) immediately before the same wood is fashioned into an idol serves as a potent theological indictment.
1. **Indictment of Idolatry:** The word starkly exposes the absurdity of idolatry. The very material that is "kindled" by human hands for practical, everyday needs is then absurdly elevated to an object of worship. This underscores the created, dependent nature of the idol, contrasting sharply with the uncreated, self-existent, and sovereign God of Israel.
2. **Emphasis on Human Folly:** The act of "kindling" is a human action, demonstrating human agency. This highlights humanity's capacity for both practical wisdom (using wood for fire) and profound spiritual folly (worshipping the product of their own hands).
3. **Distinction Between Creator and Creation:** צוּת implicitly reinforces the biblical distinction between the Creator and creation. The wood is part of creation, given by God for human benefit. To take this created material, apply human labor to it, and then worship it is a fundamental perversion of the divine order. The fire, which צוּת describes, is itself a powerful force, but it is a created force, not a divine one.
### Summary
צוּת (tsûwth, `{{H6702}}`) is a primitive Hebrew root meaning "to blaze" or "to burn," denoting an intense fiery action. Its sole biblical occurrence in [[Isaiah 44:15]] describes the act of "kindling" wood for fire. This seemingly simple action is imbued with profound theological significance within its prophetic context. צוּת serves as a critical element in Isaiah's scathing critique of idolatry, highlighting the absurdity of worshipping objects made from the same mundane materials used for everyday tasks. The word underscores the human folly of elevating created things to divine status, thereby emphasizing the unique sovereignty and uncreated nature of the true God in stark contrast to lifeless idols. Though rare, צוּת powerfully conveys a core message about true worship and the nature of divine reality versus human fabrication.
TRV