עָצֵב
𐤏𐤑𐤁
ʻâtsêb
H6092 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
One who performs labor or work, particularly as a hired worker, artisan, or craftsman. The term carries implications of skilled or intentional (sometimes burdensome) effort, particularly in making, fashioning, or constructing. In some instances, it is connected to those who form images or idols, emphasizing the craftsman aspect; in others, it denotes a laborer involved in general work or service.
Semantic Range
artisan, craftsman, skillful worker, hired laborer, maker of images or idols, general laborer
Root / Etymology
From the root עצב (ע-צ-ב), which in verb form generally means 'to shape, form, make with effort,' and carries extended meanings such as 'to grieve, experience pain, labor.' The noun עָצֵב derives from this root, specifically referring to a person engaged in crafting or laborious activity. In its nominal use, it primarily denotes 'workman' or 'craftsman,' and sometimes refers to makers of objects, particularly images or idols, reflecting the sense of shaping or fashioning with exertion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, עָצֵב refers to an individual involved in making or shaping, often with respect to artisanal or skilled labor. In 2 Samuel 5:11 and 1 Chronicles 14:1, the word refers to craftsmen—woodworkers and stoneworkers—sent by Hiram of Tyre to work on David's palace, emphasizing technical skill rather than generic labor. In Psalm 115:4 and Isaiah 40:19, the term relates to idol-makers, highlighting the craftsman’s deliberate formation of images. The Septuagint often renders the term as 'technites' (artisan/craftsman), not simply 'laborer.' English translations that use 'laborer' or 'workman' may obscure the specialized sense of skilled, often artistic, creation inherent in the word; the nuance between a general hired worker (as in שָׂכִיר) and an artisan/craftsman (as in עָצֵב) is important. Over time, the term lost prominence as new vocabulary for 'laborer' or 'worker' emerged, and its association with idol-making became more pronounced in post-exilic literature. Unlike generic terms for workers, עָצֵב typically retains a sense of intentional, crafted work rather than simple manual labor.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָצַב; a (hired) workman; labour.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עצב (ʿ-ṣ-b) — to shape, to form, to labor, to work with effort
| 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
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6092-01 |
עַצְּבֵי/כֶ֖ם | atseveykhem | HNcmpc/Sp2mp |
your labours | your craftsmen | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6092-01 |
Isaiah 58:3 | עַצְּבֵי/כֶ֖ם | atseveykhem | HNcmpc/Sp2mp |
your labours | your craftsmen |