צוֹבָא
𐤑𐤅𐤁𐤀
Tsova
H6678 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name referring to a kingdom or region located northeast of ancient Israel, typically translated as 'Zobah.' This placename designates a specific geopolitical entity mentioned in accounts relating to the early Israelite monarchy, associated with the Aramean city-states or polities of Syria. The term is used exclusively as a toponym and does not describe a people group or generic territorial noun.
Semantic Range
Zobah (proper name of a region or kingdom in Syria), designation of an Aramean polity, placename used in narrative or historical records
Root / Etymology
From root uncertain; possibly related to a not otherwise attested Semitic root meaning 'to station, to garrison, to set in place,' but no corresponding verb or other noun is preserved in Biblical Hebrew. The word is otherwise unattested outside its use as a proper name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term 'Tsôwbâʼ' (Zobah) appears in accounts primarily in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles (e.g., 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:3; 2 Chronicles 8:3), referring to an Aramean kingdom or region in northern Syria. Zobah is depicted as a significant power in the time of Saul and David, at times in conflict or alliance with Israelite kings. The precise boundaries and urban center of Zobah are not identified in the biblical text or securely in extrabiblical sources, but it is contextually grouped with other Aramean (Syrian) polities. English translations render the term as a geographical name, commonly 'Zobah.' The term should not be confused with similar-sounding words or regions in later periods. There are no clear shifts in the meaning of the term across biblical usage — it consistently refers to the same general area during the United Monarchy. Later English translations sometimes use 'Syria' anachronistically, but 'Zobah' specifically marks this polity among the Aramean states, distinct from modern or later geographic concepts of Syria.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or צוֹבָה; or צֹבָה; from an unused root meaning to station; a station; Zoba or Zobah, a region of Syria; Zoba, Zobah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1002 | בִּירָה | the citadel |
| H105 | אֲגַרְטָל | bowls of |
| H1081 | בַּלְאֲדָן | Baladan |
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6678-03 |
צוֹבָ֖ה | tsovah | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova | 8 |
H6678-02 |
צוֹבָ֗א | tsova | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova | 2 |
H6678-01 |
מִ/צֹּבָ֔ה | mitsovah | HR/Np |
of Zobah | from Zobah | from Tsova | 1 |
H6678-04 |
וּ/מִ/צּוֹבָ֔ה | umitsovah | HC/R/Np |
and from Zobah | and from Zobah | and from Tsova | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
12 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6678-03 |
1 Samuel 14:47 | צוֹבָה֙ | tsovah | HNp |
Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-03 |
2 Samuel 8:3 | צוֹבָ֑ה | tsovah | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-03 |
2 Samuel 8:5 | צוֹבָ֑ה | tsovah | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-03 |
2 Samuel 8:12 | צוֹבָֽה | tsovah | HNp |
Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-02 |
2 Samuel 10:6 | צוֹבָ֗א | tsova | HNp |
Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-02 |
2 Samuel 10:8 | צוֹבָ֤א | tsova | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-01 |
2 Samuel 23:36 | מִ/צֹּבָ֔ה | mitsovah | HR/Np |
of Zobah | from Zobah | from Tsova |
H6678-03 |
1 Kings 11:23 | צוֹבָ֖ה | tsovah | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-03 |
1 Chronicles 18:3 | צוֹבָ֖ה | tsovah | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-03 |
1 Chronicles 18:5 | צוֹבָ֑ה | tsovah | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-03 |
1 Chronicles 18:9 | צוֹבָֽה | tsovah | HNp |
of Zobah | Zobah | Tsova |
H6678-04 |
1 Chronicles 19:6 | וּ/מִ/צּוֹבָ֔ה | umitsovah | HC/R/Np |
and from Zobah | and from Zobah | and from Tsova |