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צֹאן

𐤑𐤀𐤍

tsôʼn

H6629 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צאן to move, to migrate, (uncertain; root level)

Definition

A collective term for small domesticated ruminants, specifically sheep and goats, often used for herds or flocks under human care. Used in both concrete and metaphorical senses, referring literally to the animals and figuratively to groups of people, especially in pastoral imagery.

Semantic Range

flock of sheep and/or goats, collective group of small livestock, individual sheep or goat (by synecdoche), pastoral wealth, people as a flock (metaphorical), animals designated for sacrifice

Root / Etymology

Possibly from an unused root meaning 'to migrate' or 'to move about,' but the root is uncertain. The word is not etymologically tied to any attested Hebrew verb, and other Semitic cognates are lacking or insecure. Thus, etymology ultimately remains uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צֹאן refers specifically to small livestock (sheep and goats), in contrast to בָּקָר (bāqār), which designates larger cattle. The term most frequently appears in patriarchal and monarchic narratives, signifying wealth, livelihood, and sacrificial animals. In priestly and legal texts, צֹאן denotes animals suitable for certain offerings, and in poetic or prophetic passages, it forms part of pastoral metaphors (e.g., describing the people of Israel as a flock under divine care; the 'flock' is not a reference to a formal religious community). In later Hebrew and some translations (such as the KJV), the word is occasionally rendered 'sheep,' but biblical usage encompasses both sheep and goats without distinction. There is no evidence for restrictive association with a single species in most Israelite contexts. The word is grammatically plural or collective, but may function as singular or plural depending on context. The related term עֵדֶר ('ēder) also means flock but can refer to herds of all types, not exclusively small livestock.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צאן (ṣ-ʾ-n) — flock, small livestock (sheep and goats), migrating herd (uncertain root)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6630 צַאֲנָן Flock-Pasture
H6792 צֹנֵא for your flock

Word Forms

35 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6629-06 הַ/צֹּ֖אן hatson HTd/Ncbsa the flock the flock 79
H6629-17 צֹ֔אן tson HNcbsa sheep small livestock flock 72
H6629-21 צֹאנִ֔/י tsoni HNcbsc/Sp1cs my sheep my flock 17
H6629-30 וְ/צֹ֣אן vetson HC/Ncbsa and sheep and small-livestock flock 15
H6629-19 צֹֽאנְ/ךָ֖ tsonekha HNcbsc/Sp2ms your flock your small-livestock flock 13
H6629-22 צֹאנ֖/וֹ tsono HNcbsc/Sp3ms his sheep his flock 10
H6629-07 כַּ/צֹּ֕אן katson HRd/Ncbsa like a flock flock of small livestock 9
H6629-08 כְּ/צֹ֣אן ketson HR/Ncbsa like sheep like a flock 7
H6629-28 בַ/צֹּ֑אן vatson HRd/Ncbsa and sheep sheep-and-goat flock 5
H6629-01 בַּ/צֹּ֔אן batson HRd/Ncbsa the sheep the flock 5

Occurrences in Scripture

274 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6629-17 Genesis 4:2 צֹ֔אן tson HNcbsa of sheep small livestock flock
H6629-22 Genesis 4:4 צֹאנ֖/וֹ tsono HNcbsc/Sp3ms of his flock his flock
H6629-17 Genesis 12:16 צֹאן tson HNcbsa sheep small livestock flock
H6629-17 Genesis 13:5 צֹאן tson HNcbsa flocks small livestock flock
H6629-17 Genesis 20:14 צֹ֣אן tson HNcbsa sheep small livestock flock
H6629-17 Genesis 21:27 צֹ֣אן tson HNcbsa sheep small livestock flock
H6629-06 Genesis 21:28 הַ/צֹּ֖אן hatson HTd/Ncbsa of the flock the flock
H6629-17 Genesis 24:35 צֹ֤אן tson HNcbsa flocks small livestock flock
H6629-17 Genesis 26:14 צֹאן֙ tson HNcbsa of flocks small livestock flock
H6629-06 Genesis 27:9 הַ/צֹּ֔אן hatson HTd/Ncbsa the flock the flock
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