בִּצָּה
𐤁𐤑𐤄
bitstsâh
H1207 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A swamp; a waterlogged, marshy area characterized by standing or slowly moving water, often with an accumulation of mud and vegetation. The term usually denotes a terrain that is soft, wet, and difficult to traverse, frequently associated with stagnant pools and muddy ground. In some contexts, the word may carry a negative or inhospitable connotation due to the danger or unpleasantness of such terrain.
Semantic Range
swamp, marsh, fen, muddy place, mire, wetland
Root / Etymology
From the root בוץ (b-w-ts), which primarily denotes 'mud' or 'clay.' בִּצָּה (bitstsâh) is formed as an intensive noun, signifying a place characterized by mud—thus, a 'swamp' or 'marsh.' The term amplifies the idea of muddiness inherent in the root, describing terrain rather than the substance itself.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, בִּצָּה appears rarely and is most clearly referenced in poetic or prophetic passages to convey difficult, treacherous, or unmanageable land (such as in Job 8:11; Isaiah 14:23; and Zephaniah 2:9). The term underscores the inhospitable and obstructive nature of such places—locations where reeds or rushes grow and where passage is impeded by water and mud. It contrasts with more arid or rocky landscapes (e.g., מדבר midbar, 'wilderness'; ציה tsiyyâh, 'dry land'). In later Hebrew, it continues to bear the meaning of 'marsh' or 'swamp.' English translations often use 'fen,' 'marsh,' 'mire,' or 'swamp,' but may not fully convey the nuanced sense of a persistent, muddy, waterlogged place that the Hebrew implies. There is no strong evidence of significant historical shift in the term's meaning over time, but it remains uncommon and often poetic in usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
intensive from בֹץ; a swamp; fen, mire(-ry place).
Bantu Hebrew
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בוצ (b-w-ts) — to be muddy, to be clayey, to mire
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1207-03 |
בִצָּ֑ה | vitsah | HNcfsa |
a marsh | muddy marsh | 1 |
H1207-04 |
בצאת/ו | vtstv | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
its swamps | his swamp | 1 |
H1207-02 |
וּ/בִצָּֽה | uvitsah | HC/Ncfsa |
and in the marsh | and swamp | 1 |
H1207-01 |
בִּצֹּאתָ֧י/ו | bitsotayv | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
its swamps | his swamp | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1207-04 |
Ezekiel 47:11 | בצאת/ו | vtstv | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
its swamps | his swamp |
H1207-01 |
Ezekiel 47:11 | בִּצֹּאתָ֧י/ו | bitsotayv | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
its swamps | his swamp |
H1207-03 |
Job 8:11 | בִצָּ֑ה | vitsah | HNcfsa |
a marsh | muddy marsh |
H1207-02 |
Job 40:21 | וּ/בִצָּֽה | uvitsah | HC/Ncfsa |
and in the marsh | and swamp |