צוֹא
𐤑𐤅𐤀
tsôwʼ
H6674 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or condition of being unclean, foul, or polluted, particularly due to excrement or filth. The term is primarily used to denote defilement in a physical, and at times metaphorical, sense, especially as related to bodily filth or impure conditions.
Semantic Range
excrement, filth, soiled state, that which is expelled, impurity; metaphorical filth or defilement
Root / Etymology
Root: צוּא (ts-w-ʔ), though there is no direct attested verb in usage; the word is derived from a presumed but unattested root meaning 'to go forth, issue, or excrete.' The nominal form צוֹא (tsôʾ) develops the meaning of something issued or expelled, i.e., excrement or that which soils.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צוֹא occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably appearing in contexts associated with ritual, physical, or moral impurity (e.g., Malachi 2:3). It emphasizes extreme uncleanness, often with reference to substances expelled from the body. In late biblical and post-biblical Hebrew, related forms (e.g., צואה) develop more specific references to human or animal excrement. In biblical usage, the word often serves as a metaphor for contempt or defilement. Standard English translations such as 'filthy' or 'dung' do not always capture the nuance of ritual defilement implied in some passages. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for excrement, such as פֶּרֶשׁ (peresh), which is more clinical and less heavily loaded with notions of ritual or metaphorical impurity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or צֹא; from an unused root meaning to issue; soiled (as if excrementitious); filthy.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צוא (ts-w-ʾ) — to go forth, to issue, to expel
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6675 | צוֹאָה | expelled waste |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6674-02 |
צוֹאִ֑ים | tsoim | HAampa |
filthy | expelled filths | 1 |
H6674-01 |
הַ/צֹּאִ֖ים | hatsoim | HTd/Aampa |
the-filthy | the filth-soiled ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6674-02 |
Zechariah 3:3 | צוֹאִ֑ים | tsoim | HAampa |
filthy | expelled filths |
H6674-01 |
Zechariah 3:4 | הַ/צֹּאִ֖ים | hatsoim | HTd/Aampa |
the-filthy | the filth-soiled ones |