English · KJV
H936

בּוּז

bûwz /booz/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto disrespect
KJV usagecontemn, despise
Idioms & phrasesidiom utterly.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of bûwz — 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 bûwz, represented by H936, is a primitive root meaning to disrespect. It is translated as contemn, despise, and in an idiomatic sense, utterly. This term appears 12 times across 11 unique verses in the Bible, primarily conveying an attitude of contempt or scorn.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H936 consistently denotes a foolish or sinful rejection of what is valuable. It is frequently used in the book of Proverbs to describe the attitude of a fool toward divine principles. For instance, fools are those who despise wisdom and instruction Proverbs 1:7. This contempt extends to interpersonal relationships, where one who despiseth his neighbour is said to sin Proverbs 14:21, and the one who is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour Proverbs 11:12. The word also applies to scorning parental authority (Proverbs 23:22, Proverbs 30:17) and rejecting God's word, which leads to destruction Proverbs 13:13. In a unique double usage, it expresses how an offer of wealth for love would be utterly H936 contemned H936 Song of Solomon 8:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to contextualize the meaning of despising:

  • H191 ʼĕvîyl: This word means a fool or silly person. Its connection is direct and explicit in scripture, which states that fools H191 are the ones who despise H936 wisdom and instruction Proverbs 1:7.
  • H2638 châçêr: Defined as lacking, void, or destitute, this term describes the internal state of one who despises others. The Bible links this lack directly to contempt, stating that "He that is void H2638 of wisdom despiseth H936 his neighbour" Proverbs 11:12.
  • H3932 lâʻag: Meaning to deride or mock, this word is used in parallel with H936 to illustrate profound disrespect for parents. The same eye that mocketh H3932 at a father also despiseth H936 to obey a mother Proverbs 30:17.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H936 is significant, highlighting a disposition that is contrary to godly wisdom and humility.

  • Rejection of Authority: To despise the word Proverbs 13:13 or one's parents Proverbs 23:22 is to reject the foundational sources of divine and familial instruction, an act that scripture warns will lead to destruction and severe consequence Proverbs 30:17.
  • Contempt for the Humble: The act of despising is contrasted with God's perspective. While men may have despised the "day of small things," God's eyes see it as a cause for rejoicing Zechariah 4:10. This frames human contempt as a failure to see divine value.
  • The Mark of a Fool: Despising is consistently presented not as a sign of strength, but of foolishness. Whether it is a fool despising wisdom Proverbs 23:9 or someone void of wisdom despising a neighbour Proverbs 11:12, the act itself is an indicator of a sinful and unwise heart.

Summary

In summary, H936 is a key biblical term that defines the active and willful disrespect for wisdom, authority, and other people. Primarily found in wisdom literature, it serves as a warning against the arrogance and foolishness that leads to rejecting God's instruction, scorning one's neighbour, and dishonoring one's parents. The consequences are dire, while the opposite disposition—fearing the commandment and showing mercy—is associated with reward and happiness (Proverbs 13:13, Proverbs 14:21).

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 14 occurrences, inflected in 9 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.

  • יָבוּזוּ
  • בָּז
  • בָּזָה
  • תָבוּז
  • תָּבוּז
  • יָבוּז
  • בּוֹז
  • בָּזוּ
  • בַז

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.

H191 אֱוִיל from an unused root (meaning to be perverse); (figuratively) silly; fool(-ish) (man). H2638 חָסֵר from חָסֵר; lacking; hence, without; destitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want. H3932 לָעַג a primitive root; to deride; by implication (as if imitating a foreigner) to speak unintelligibly; have in derision, lau

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 11 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (8 verses); never once in the other 36.

8
Proverbs
2
Song of Solomon
1
Zechariah

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.