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עָצָב

𐤏𐤑𐤁

ʻâtsâb

H6091 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עצב to shape, to carve, to fashion

Definition

A carved figure, usually referring to a physical image or representation of a deity, typically made by human hands for use in worship or veneration as an idol. The term denotes tangible, physical idols—often wooden, stone, or metal representations crafted for religious contexts. Its usage consistently implies a negative sense, referring to forbidden objects in Israelite religion.

Semantic Range

carved image, idol, physical representation of a deity, object of worship fashioned by hand

Root / Etymology

Root עצב (ʿ-ṣ-b), which in its verbal stem means 'to carve, shape, form, fashion with effort.' עָצָב (ʿātsāv) is a noun form derived from this root, signifying something carved or fashioned, specifically a carved image or idol.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, עָצָב is used to describe physical idols made by peoples surrounding the Israelites, and as objects forbidden in Israelite worship. The term appears most often in Deuteronomistic and prophetic texts to emphasize the physicality and man-made nature of these representations, in contrast to the non-material divine. It is typically distinguished from other Hebrew words for idols, such as פֶּסֶל (pesel, 'engraved image') and אֱלִיל (elil, 'worthless thing, idol'), with עָצָב focusing on the aspect of being painstakingly shaped rather than on worthlessness or engraved form. Later translations such as the Septuagint utilize different Greek terms (e.g., eidolon) rendering the meaning as 'idol.' English Bible translations commonly use 'idol' for עָצָב, which accurately reflects its referent, but sometimes lose the nuance that the word originally connotes something shaped or carved.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָצַב; an (idolatrous) image; idol, image.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עצב (ʿ-ṣ-b) — to shape, to carve, to fashion

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4620 מַעֲצֵבָה to a carved idol
H6087 עָצַב he pained him
H6088 עֲצַב pain-stricken
H6089 עֶצֶב in pain
H6090 עֹצֶב my formed-idol

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6091-03 עֲצַבֵּי/הֶ֖ם atsabeyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their idols their carved-idols 6
H6091-04 עֲצַבִּ֛ים atsabim HNcmpa idols carved idols 3
H6091-05 הָֽ/עֲצַבִּים֙ haatsabim HTd/Ncmpa idols the carved idols 2
H6091-02 עֲצַבֶּ֔י/הָ atsabeyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs idols of her her carved-idols 2
H6091-07 לָֽ/עֲצַבִּ֑ים laatsabim HRd/Ncmpa with idols to carved idols 1
H6091-06 לַ/עֲצַבֵּ֣י laatsabey HR/Ncmpc to the idols to carved idols of 1
H6091-08 וְ/לַ/עֲצַבֶּֽי/הָ velaatsabeyha HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and to her idols and to her carved-images 1
H6091-01 עֲצַבֵּ֣י atsabey HNcmpc idols carved idols of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6091-03 1 Samuel 31:9 עֲצַבֵּי/הֶ֖ם atsabeyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp of their idols their carved-idols
H6091-03 2 Samuel 5:21 עֲצַבֵּי/הֶ֑ם atsabeyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp idols their carved-idols
H6091-08 Isaiah 10:11 וְ/לַ/עֲצַבֶּֽי/הָ velaatsabeyha HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and to her idols and to her carved-images
H6091-03 Isaiah 46:1 עֲצַבֵּי/הֶ֔ם atsabeyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their idols their carved-idols
H6091-02 Jeremiah 50:2 עֲצַבֶּ֔י/הָ atsabeyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her images her carved-idols
H6091-04 Hosea 4:17 עֲצַבִּ֛ים atsabim HNcmpa to idols carved idols
H6091-04 Hosea 8:4 עֲצַבִּ֔ים atsabim HNcmpa idols carved idols
H6091-04 Hosea 13:2 עֲצַבִּ֔ים atsabim HNcmpa idols carved idols
H6091-07 Hosea 14:9 לָֽ/עֲצַבִּ֑ים laatsabim HRd/Ncmpa with idols to carved idols
H6091-02 Micah 1:7 עֲצַבֶּ֖י/הָ atsabeyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs idols of her her carved-idols
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