Word Study for H6872 (צְרוֹר)

tsᵉrôwr /tser-ore'/ Ask about this word

Rootor (shorter) צְרֹר · from צָרַר

Meaninga parcel (as packed up); also a kernel or particle (as if a package)

KJV usagebag, bundle, least grain, small stone.

Idioms & phrasesidiom bendeth

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsᵉrôwr — 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 tsᵉrôwr, represented by H6872, refers primarily to a parcel or something packed up. Originating from the verb meaning to bind or cramp, its definitions include bag, bundle, the least grain, or a small stone. It appears 11 times across 10 unique verses, illustrating how a common object can carry diverse literal and symbolic meanings.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H6872 denotes both literal containers and small particles. It is frequently used to mean a bag or bundle of money, as when Joseph's brothers discover their money in their sacks Genesis 42:35 or when a person takes a "bag of money" on a journey Proverbs 7:20. The word also signifies something very small, such as a "small stone" that might be overlooked 2 Samuel 17:13 or "the least grain" that will not fall to the earth during sifting Amos 9:9. Figuratively, it is used to describe transgression being "sealed up in a bag" Job 14:17 and, most notably, the soul being kept safe in "the bundle of life" 1 Samuel 25:29.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H6872 by providing context for binding, containing, and contrasting actions:

H6887 tsârar (to cramp... bind (up)... beseige... distress, enemy): As the root verb, it provides the action that creates a tsᵉrôwr. It describes the act of binding things together, such as water in a garment Proverbs 30:4, but is also used for the affliction brought by an enemy Psalms 129:1.
H8242 saq (a bag (for grain, etc.)): This term for a larger bag often appears in connection with H6872. In Genesis 42:35, the "bundles" H6872 of money are found inside the larger "sacks" H8242, illustrating a container within a container.
H7050 qelaʻ (a sling): This word offers a stark contrast. In 1 Samuel 25:29, the security of being in the "bundle" H6872 of life is contrasted with the fate of enemies, who will be thrown out from a "sling" H7050.

Theological Significance

The theological and metaphorical weight of H6872 is significant, often used to convey concepts of security, judgment, and futility.

Divine Preservation: The image of the soul being "bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God" is a powerful metaphor for divine protection and security 1 Samuel 25:29. It suggests being treasured and kept safe by God himself.
The Accounting of Sin: Job uses the term to describe his transgression as being "sealed up in a bag" Job 14:17. This implies that sin is contained, remembered, and held securely for future judgment.
Fruitless Labor: In Haggai 1:6, earning wages only to put them "into a bag with holes" serves as a vivid illustration of futile effort and the consequences of spiritual neglect. Similarly, giving honor to a fool is compared to the nonsensical act of binding a stone in a sling Proverbs 26:8.

Summary

In summary, H6872 is a versatile word that moves from the tangible to the theological. It can be a simple bag for money Genesis 42:35, a tiny grain Amos 9:9, or a small stone 2 Samuel 17:13. More profoundly, it becomes a vessel for key spiritual concepts, representing the ultimate security found in God's "bundle of life" 1 Samuel 25:29 or the utter futility of a "bag with holes" Haggai 1:6. The word powerfully illustrates how scripture uses everyday objects to teach about divine protection, judgment, and the nature of a life lived with or without God's favor.

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 and a verb across 11 occurrences, inflected in 5 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.

צְרוֹר
צְרוֹר
צְרֹרוֹת
צְרוֹר
צְרוֹר

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 10 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Samuel and Proverbs (2 verses each); never once in the other 31.

Genesis

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

Job

Proverbs

Song of Solomon

Amos

Haggai

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.