עַצֶּבֶת
𐤏𐤑𐤁𐤕
ʻatstsebeth
H6094 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A manufactured figure or image intended for veneration, commonly translated as 'idol'; can also denote physical or emotional pain, wound, or sorrow in specific poetic or metaphorical contexts. The primary usage in the Hebrew Bible is as a term for an object of worship (idol), but in some instances, it can refer to affliction or grief.
Semantic Range
idol, manufactured figure or image, object of worship; pain, wound, affliction, sorrow (rare, poetic)
Root / Etymology
From the root עצב (ʿ-ts-b), meaning 'to fashion, shape, form; to be pained, to grieve.' עַצֶּבֶת is most commonly a feminine noun indicating a thing made—specifically, a fashioned image or idol. The connection to pain or sorrow is rooted in the idea of causing grief or suffering, whether through idolatry or affliction.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, עַצֶּבֶת primarily refers to a crafted image or idol, as in Psalms 115:4 and Psalms 135:15, where it describes the material idols of foreign nations in contrast to the God of Israel. The semantic extension to pain or sorrow is rare and poetic, reflecting the broader semantic field of the root עצב ('to grieve, suffer'). The rendering 'idol' emphasizes the tangible, manufactured aspect, distinct from more general terms for foreign gods such as אֱלִיל (elil, 'worthless thing') or אַבִּיר (abir, 'mighty one'). In post-biblical usage, this word mostly falls out of common religious terminology. Standard English translations often limit עַצֶּבֶת to 'idol,' sometimes missing the nuanced connotation of something made (and thus inherently powerless) or the rare poetic use indicating suffering or grief.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָצַב; a idol; also, a pain or wound; sorrow, wound.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עצב (ʿ-ṣ-b) — to fashion, shape, form; to cause pain, grieve
| 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
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6094-02 |
עַצְּבוֹתָ/ם֮ | atsevotam | HNcfpc/Sp3mp |
their sorrows | their fashioned-idols | 1 | |
H6094-05 |
וּ/בְ/עַצְּבַת | uveatsevat | HC/R/Ncfsc |
but by sorrow | and in fashioned-image-of | 1 | |
H6094-04 |
לְ/עַצְּבוֹתָֽ/ם | leatsevotam | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp |
their wounds | to their fashioned-images | 1 | |
H6094-03 |
עַצְּבֹתָ֑/י | atsevotay | HNcfpc/Sp1cs |
my sorrows | my fashioned-images | 1 | |
H6094-01 |
עַצָּ֑בֶת | atsavet | HNcfsa |
sorrow | fashioned idol | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6094-02 |
Psalms 16:4 | עַצְּבוֹתָ/ם֮ | atsevotam | HNcfpc/Sp3mp |
their sorrows | their fashioned-idols | |
H6094-04 |
Psalms 147:3 | לְ/עַצְּבוֹתָֽ/ם | leatsevotam | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp |
their wounds | to their fashioned-images | |
H6094-01 |
Proverbs 10:10 | עַצָּ֑בֶת | atsavet | HNcfsa |
sorrow | fashioned idol | |
H6094-05 |
Proverbs 15:13 | וּ/בְ/עַצְּבַת | uveatsevat | HC/R/Ncfsc |
but by sorrow | and in fashioned-image-of | |
H6094-03 |
Job 9:28 | עַצְּבֹתָ֑/י | atsevotay | HNcfpc/Sp1cs |
my sorrows | my fashioned-images |