English · KJV
H6808

צָעָה

tsâʻâh /tsaw-aw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto tip over (for the purpose of spilling or pouring out), i.e. (figuratively) depopulate; by implication, to imprison or conquer; (reflexive) to lie down (for coitus)
KJV usagecaptive exile, travelling, (cause to) wander(-er).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsâʻâh — 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 Hebrew word tsâʻâh, represented by H6808, is a primitive root with a range of meanings connected to movement and displacement. Its definitions include to tip over for pouring, to depopulate, to imprison, and to wander, travel, or be a captive exile. It appears 5 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, showing its specific but impactful usage.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical applications, H6808 conveys different types of movement, from sinful straying to majestic travel. In Jeremiah, it is used to describe Israel wanderest, playing the harlot on every high hill after breaking their covenant with God Jeremiah 2:20. It is also used by God to describe a coming judgment, where He will send wanderers to cause Moab to wander and be emptied Jeremiah 48:12. In a different context, the term describes "the captive exile" who longs to be set free Isaiah 51:14. Conversely, it can depict a glorious figure travelling in the greatness of his strength Isaiah 63:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H6808 is used:

  • H4116 mâhar (to hurry): This word is used alongside "captive exile" to show the urgency of the desire for freedom, stating that the exile hasteneth to be loosed Isaiah 51:14.
  • H6605 pâthach (to open wide): This word describes the goal of the captive exile, who hastens so that he may be loosed from his confinement and avoid death in the pit Isaiah 51:14.
  • H7971 shâlach (to send away, for, or out): This verb highlights the divine agency behind the displacement in Jeremiah 48:12, where God declares, "I will send unto him wanderers."
  • H7324 rûwq (to pour out, empty): In the judgment against Moab, the action of the wanderers H6808 is immediately followed by the promise that they "shall empty his vessels," linking the concept of wandering to being depopulated Jeremiah 48:12.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6808 is expressed through its varied applications, highlighting themes of judgment, captivity, and power.

  • Consequence of Sin: In Jeremiah 2:20, wandering is directly linked to idolatry and breaking God's covenant, portraying it as a form of spiritual unfaithfulness.
  • Divine Judgment: The word is used to describe an active judgment from God. In Jeremiah 48:12, God sends "wanderers" to enact displacement upon Moab, showing that exile can be a divine punishment.
  • The Plight of the Exile: The term "captive exile" H6808 in Isaiah 51:14 encapsulates a state of suffering and imprisonment, defining a person in desperate need of salvation and freedom.
  • Glorious Progression: In contrast, the use of travelling in Isaiah 63:1 associates the word with a display of divine power and majesty, demonstrating that not all movement described by H6808 is negative.

Summary

In summary, H6808 is a dynamic word whose meaning is shaped by its context. It can signify the aimless and sinful straying of God's people, the forced displacement of a nation under judgment, or the specific condition of a captive exile yearning for release. At the same time, it can be used to describe powerful and purposeful movement, illustrating a concept that ranges from the disgrace of harlotry to the glory of a mighty savior.

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 verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — 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.

  • צֹעֶה
  • צֵעֻ
  • צֹעִים
  • צֹעָה

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.

H4116 מָהַר a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); oft H6605 פָּתַח a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve; appear, break H7971 שָׁלַח a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on t H7324 רוּק a primitive root; to pour out (literally or figuratively), i.e. empty; [idiom] arm, cast out, draw (out), (make) empty,

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

Appears in 4 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah and Jeremiah (2 verses each); never once in the other 37.

2
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah

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.