צוּד
𐤑𐤅𐤃
tsûwd
H6679 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To hunt or pursue game, especially for food or provision; to set traps or lie in wait in order to catch animals; by extension, to provide oneself with provisions obtained from hunting. In certain contexts, can also refer metaphorically to seeking after or pursuing someone or something with intent, such as preying on humans or attempting to ensnare.
Semantic Range
to hunt game, to pursue for food, to provide provisions from hunting, to lie in wait (ambush), to entrap or ensnare (literal and figurative), to victual or supply provisions, to pursue or chase with intent to capture
Root / Etymology
The verb צוּד derives from the root צוד, which at its core denotes the act of hunting or pursuing. The root is also the basis of the noun צַיִד (tsayid), meaning 'game' or 'hunted food.' The relationship between verb and noun is typical of Hebrew verbal-nominal formations. The root likely conveys the sense of seeking, tracking, and obtaining prey.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the patriarchal narratives, hunting (צוד) is portrayed as a significant activity, notably for figures such as Esau, who is called 'a skilled hunter' (אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד). Hunting was both a means of sustenance and a demonstration of skill or status in early Israelite and neighboring societies. The verb appears most often in contexts related to obtaining food for a family or household, sometimes for a journey (as in Genesis 27:3). In later periods, as Israelite society became more agrarian, hunting receded in importance, and references become rarer and sometimes metaphorical (e.g., preying upon or seeking to ensnare others). English translations often narrow the sense to 'hunt,' but the verb can also encompass broader notions of provision and pursuit.צוד is distinct from other verbs of pursuit, such as רָדַף (to chase, pursue generally), in that it implies a specific intention to obtain prey, often through stealth or traps. The denominative form highlights the direct connection between the action (hunt) and its product (game/meat). The verb does not carry the pejorative or sinister connotations that the English 'prey upon' sometimes has, unless contextually specified.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; also denominative from צַיִד; to lie alongside (i.e. in wait); by implication, to catch an animal (figuratively, men); to victual (for a journey); chase, hunt, sore, take (provision).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
צוד (Tsidon) — to hunt, lie in wait, ambush
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4679 | מְצַד | in the mountain stronghold |
| H4685 | מָצוֹד | in the hunting-nets |
| H6718 | צַיִד | hunted-game of |
| H6721 | צִידוֹן | to Tsidon the Fishing-Town |
Word Forms
17 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6679-06 |
מְצֹדְד֨וֹת | metsodedot | HVorfpa |
hunt | hunting women | hunting women | 2 |
H6679-01 |
הֲ/תָצ֣וּד | hatatsud | HTi/Vqi2ms |
will you hunt | will you hunt? | will you hunt | 1 |
H6679-02 |
הַ/צָּֽד | hatsad | HTd/Vqrmsa |
the one who hunted | the hunter | the one who hunted | 1 |
H6679-03 |
הִצְטַיַּ֤דְנוּ | hitsetayadenu | HVtp1cp |
we took...for provisions | we hunted for ourselves | we took for ourselves as provisions | 1 |
H6679-04 |
לָ/צ֥וּד | latsud | HR/Vqc |
to hunt | to hunt | to hunt | 1 |
H6679-05 |
לְ/צוֹדֵ֣ד | letsoded | HR/Voc |
to-hunt | to hunt down | to hunt down | 1 |
H6679-07 |
תָצֽוּד | tatsud | HVqi3fs |
hunts | she hunts | she hunts | 1 |
H6679-08 |
תְּצוֹדֵ֣דְנָה | tetsodedenah | HVoi2fp |
will-you-hunt | you women will hunt down | you women will hunt down | 1 |
H6679-09 |
תְּצוּדֵ֑/נִי | tetsudeni | HVqi2ms/Sp1cs |
you hunt me | you hunt me | you hunt me | 1 |
H6679-10 |
צָד֣וּ | tsadu | HVqp3cp |
They hunted | they hunted | they hunted | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
18 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6679-14 |
Genesis 27:3 | וְ/צ֥וּדָ/ה | vetsudah | HC/Vqv2ms/Sh |
and hunt | and hunt! | and hunt |
H6679-04 |
Genesis 27:5 | לָ/צ֥וּד | latsud | HR/Vqc |
to hunt | to hunt | to hunt |
H6679-02 |
Genesis 27:33 | הַ/צָּֽד | hatsad | HTd/Vqrmsa |
the one who hunted | the hunter | the one who hunted |
H6679-15 |
Leviticus 17:13 | יָצ֜וּד | yatsud | HVqi3ms |
hunts | he hunts | he hunts |
H6679-03 |
Joshua 9:12 | הִצְטַיַּ֤דְנוּ | hitsetayadenu | HVtp1cp |
we took...for provisions | we hunted for ourselves | we took for ourselves as provisions |
H6679-13 |
Jeremiah 16:16 | וְ/צָד֞וּ/ם | vetsadum | HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3mp |
and they shall hunt them | and they hunted them | and they shall hunt them |
H6679-05 |
Ezekiel 13:18 | לְ/צוֹדֵ֣ד | letsoded | HR/Voc |
to-hunt | to hunt down | to hunt down |
H6679-08 |
Ezekiel 13:18 | תְּצוֹדֵ֣דְנָה | tetsodedenah | HVoi2fp |
will-you-hunt | you women will hunt down | you women will hunt down |
H6679-06 |
Ezekiel 13:20 | מְצֹדְד֨וֹת | metsodedot | HVorfpa |
hunt | hunting women | hunting women |
H6679-06 |
Ezekiel 13:20 | מְצֹדְד֥וֹת | metsodedot-2 | HVorfpa |
hunt | hunting women | hunting women |
H6679-16 |
Micah 7:2 | יָצ֥וּדוּ | yatsudu | HVqi3mp |
they hunt | they hunt | they hunt |
H6679-17 |
Psalms 140:12 | יְ֝צוּדֶ֗/נּוּ | yetsudenu | HVqj3ms/Sp3ms |
shall hunt him | may he hunt him | may hunt him |
H6679-07 |
Proverbs 6:26 | תָצֽוּד | tatsud | HVqi3fs |
hunts | she hunts | she hunts |
H6679-09 |
Job 10:16 | תְּצוּדֵ֑/נִי | tetsudeni | HVqi2ms/Sp1cs |
you hunt me | you hunt me | you hunt me |
H6679-01 |
Job 38:39 | הֲ/תָצ֣וּד | hatatsud | HTi/Vqi2ms |
will you hunt | will you hunt? | will you hunt |
H6679-12 |
Lamentations 3:52 | צ֥וֹד | tsod | HVqa |
hunted | hunting | hunting |
H6679-11 |
Lamentations 3:52 | צָד֛וּ/נִי | tsaduni | HVqp3cp/Sp1cs |
they hunted me | they hunted me | they hunted me |
H6679-10 |
Lamentations 4:18 | צָד֣וּ | tsadu | HVqp3cp |
They hunted | they hunted | they hunted |