The Hebrew word tᵉbûwʼâh, represented by H8393, is derived from the root H935 bôwʼ, meaning to go or come. It signifies income or produce, whether literal or figurative. It appears 42 times in 40 unique verses, encompassing concepts such as fruit, gain, increase, and revenue.
The nuance of H8393 often implies not just the raw product, but the yield that has "come in" or been gathered from a process, whether natural growth or human endeavor. It represents the return on an investment of labor, seed, or capital, distinguishing it from merely existing raw materials. This inherent "coming in" aspect positions H8393 as the realized outcome, the tangible result of a preceding action or natural cycle, rather than the potential or the source itself. It is the harvested portion, whether of crops, financial ventures, or even the consequences of one's ethical choices.
In scripture, H8393 is frequently used in agricultural contexts to refer to the fruit of the land of Canaan that the Israelites ate after the manna ceased Joshua 5:12. It describes the increase from crops like corn, wine, oil, and honey 2 Chronicles 31:5. The term is also central to laws concerning tithes, where the Israelites were commanded to tithe "all the increase of thy seed" Deuteronomy 14:22. Figuratively, it refers to financial revenues or gain, contrasting the "great revenues without right" Proverbs 16:8 with the value of wisdom, whose gain is better than fine gold Proverbs 3:14. It can also describe the outcome of one's actions, as the fruit of the wicked leads to sin Proverbs 10:16.
Beyond the annual agricultural cycle, H8393 also features prominently in the unique regulations of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, where the land was to lie fallow. Despite the cessation of sowing, God promised that in the sixth year, the land would "bring forth fruit for three years" Leviticus 25:21, allowing the people to "eat the increase thereof out of the field" even in the seventh year Leviticus 25:12, highlighting divine provision independent of human labor. This underscores H8393 as a gift from God, even when conventional methods of cultivation are suspended. Furthermore, wisdom literature extends H8393 to the consequences of communication, as a man's "belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled" Proverbs 18:20, illustrating that words, like seeds, yield an outcome, whether positive or negative.
Several related Hebrew words provide a fuller understanding of the concept of increase and produce:
- H935 bôwʼ (to go or come): As the root of tᵉbûwʼâh, this word establishes the idea of produce as that which "comes in" from the land or from one's labor.
- H2233 zeraʻ (seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity): This term denotes the source of agricultural increase, often appearing in commands to tithe from the increase of the seed Deuteronomy 14:22.
- H6529 pᵉrîy (fruit (literally or figuratively); bough, (first-)fruit(-ful), reward): Often used in parallel with tᵉbûwʼâh, it refers to the yield of vineyards and fields, which produce fruits of increase Psalms 107:37.
- H7704 sâdeh (a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil): This word identifies the location from which the increase is gathered, such as the "increase of the field" 2 Chronicles 31:5.
- H8362 shâthal (to plant): This verb denotes the crucial act of setting seeds or young plants into the ground, a foundational step that directly precedes and enables the generation of H8393. While H2233 zeraʻ refers to the seed itself and H7704 sâdeh to the field, shâthal describes the human action that initiates the process of cultivating the land for its eventual increase.
The theological application of H8393 is significant, highlighting key principles of faith and life.
- Divine Provision and Stewardship: The concept of increase is foundational to tithing laws, where the firstfruits of all increase are to be given to honor the LORD Proverbs 3:9. The tithe of this increase was designated for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, reflecting a system of community care rooted in God's provision Deuteronomy 26:12.
- Sign of Covenant Blessing or Cursing: Abundant increase is portrayed as a direct blessing from God. He promised to command His blessing in the sixth year, which would "bring forth fruit for three years" Leviticus 25:21. Conversely, the failure of revenues is a direct consequence of the "fierce anger of the LORD" Jeremiah 12:13.
- The Nature of True Gain: The term is used figuratively to distinguish between material wealth and spiritual value. A little with righteousness is considered better than "great revenues without right" Proverbs 16:8. Similarly, the gain from wisdom is valued more highly than gold Proverbs 3:14, emphasizing that the ultimate "fruit" of one's life is determined by righteousness, not riches.
- Consequences of Unrighteousness and Idleness: While abundant H8393 is a sign of blessing, its absence or perversion often signals divine judgment or the natural outcome of human folly. Prophets lament the futility of labor when God's favor is withdrawn, where people "sown wheat, but shall reap thorns" and "shall be ashamed of your revenues" Jeremiah 12:13. Similarly, the wisdom literature warns that "great revenues without right" Proverbs 16:8 are inferior to humble righteousness, and that a lack of diligent effort, symbolized by "where no oxen are, the crib is clean" Proverbs 14:4, directly results in a diminished or absent increase. This highlights that H8393 is not merely a neutral economic term but is deeply intertwined with moral conduct and divine reckoning.
The term H8393 tᵉbûwʼâh, rooted in H935 bôwʼ (to come or go), profoundly signifies the income or produce that has been realized, whether literally from the earth or figuratively from human endeavor. It encapsulates the idea of a yield that "comes in" as the tangible result of a process, distinguishing it from mere potential or raw materials. This encompasses agricultural fruit and increase, economic gain and revenue, and even the moral outcome of one's actions, making it a versatile concept across the Old Testament.
Scriptural applications of H8393 span diverse contexts, from the literal fruit of the land sustaining the Israelites after the manna ceased Joshua 5:12 to the increase from tithed crops like corn, wine, and oil 2 Chronicles 31:5. Beyond these, it extends to financial revenues, contrasting ill-gotten gains with the superior gain of wisdom Proverbs 3:14. Notably, H8393 also illustrates divine provision in extraordinary circumstances, such as the promised increase during Sabbath and Jubilee years when the land lay fallow Leviticus 25:12, underscoring God's ability to provide beyond human labor. Furthermore, wisdom literature broadens its scope to the profound increase or outcome derived from one's words and speech Proverbs 18:20.
The theological weight of H8393 is substantial, grounding principles of divine blessing and human stewardship. It forms the basis for tithing, where the firstfruits of all increase are consecrated to the LORD Proverbs 3:9, and represents a tangible sign of covenant faithfulness or judgment, with abundant increase signifying blessing Leviticus 25:21 and its failure signaling divine displeasure Jeremiah 12:13. The concept also highlights the moral dimension of prosperity, asserting that gain obtained through righteousness is far superior to "great revenues without right" Proverbs 16:8. Moreover, the absence of H8393 or its negative manifestation serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unrighteousness or idleness, where effort yields "thorns" instead of revenues Jeremiah 12:13 and the "crib is clean" without diligent work Proverbs 14:4. Thus, tᵉbûwʼâh remains a pivotal term, articulating the intricate connections between human labor, divine favor, and moral conduct in the biblical worldview.
TRV