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צָבָא

𐤑𐤁𐤀

tsâbâʼ

H6633 verb

SILEX Entry

Root צבא to go out, assemble, perform organized service, wage war

Definition

To go out or set forth for organized duty, especially in a military or service context; to serve in a group or participate in collective activity under direction. In biblical usage, suggests participation within a body assembled for a particular purpose—most frequently military mobilization, but also includes other forms of conscripted or ritual service (e.g., temple service).

Semantic Range

to perform military service, to assemble for battle, to be mustered or conscripted, to undertake collective duty, to serve in ritual or temple context, to participate in an organized host or group

Root / Etymology

From the root צ-ב-א, meaning originally 'to go out, to set forth.' The lexeme developed to indicate organized movement, whether military or ritual. The noun form (צָבָא) means 'army,' 'host,' or 'service,' with the verb reflecting action: 'to serve as part of an organized group, especially within an army or for ritual duty.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the earliest contexts of the Hebrew Bible, צָבָא refers most often to the assembly and mobilization of Israelite fighting forces, as in narratives about mustering troops for battle during the monarchic period. The term also extends into the domain of ritual service, such as those 'serving' at the tent of meeting or in the temple (cf. Num 4:23; 8:24), where the imagery of military service is applied to structured religious duties. Over time, especially in priestly and exilic literature, the term expands to encompass heavenly 'hosts' or cosmic assemblies, indicating both the service of celestial beings (Gen 2:1; Isa 34:2) and ritual personnel. English translations often obscure the breadth of meaning, sometimes reducing the sense to 'fight' or 'do service,' but in Hebrew the emphasis lies in organized participation, whether in war, worship, or other collective obligation. Distinct from related terms like חֵיל (strength, army) or מַחֲנֶה (camp, encampment), צָבָא focuses on the collective nature and the duty fulfilled by such a group.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to mass (an army or servants); assemble, fight, perform, muster, wait upon, war.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צבא (ṣ-b-ʾ) — to go out, assemble, perform organized service, wage war

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6634 צְבָא willing one
H6635 צָבָא in the organized host
H6640 צְבוּ determined purpose
H6648 צֶבַע host of
H6717 צִיבָא to Stationed-One

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6633-02 הַ/צֹּבְאִֽים hatsoveim HTd/Vqrmpa that fight the ones serving in the host 3
H6633-05 לִ/צְבֹ֣א litsevo HR/Vqc to perform to muster for service 2
H6633-06 צָֽבְא֔וּ tsaveu HVqp3cp have warred they performed organized service 2
H6633-03 הַ/צֹּ֣בְאֹ֔ת hatsoveot HTd/Vqrfpa of the serving women the women serving in organized duty 2
H6633-01 הַ/מַּצְבִּ֖א hamatsebi HTd/Vhrmsa mustering the one mobilizing for service 2
H6633-08 וַֽ/יִּצְבְּאוּ֙ vayitsebeu HC/Vqw3mp And they warred And they mustered for service 1
H6633-07 צֹבֶ֨י/הָ֙ tsoveyha HVqrmpc/Sp3fs those who fight against her her host-serving ones 1
H6633-04 לִ/צְבֹּ֥א litsebo HR/Vqc to fight to perform organized service 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6633-03 Exodus 38:8 הַ/צֹּ֣בְאֹ֔ת hatsoveot HTd/Vqrfpa of the serving women the women serving in organized duty
H6633-06 Exodus 38:8 צָֽבְא֔וּ tsaveu HVqp3cp served they performed organized service
H6633-05 Numbers 4:23 לִ/צְבֹ֣א litsevo HR/Vqc to perform to muster for service
H6633-05 Numbers 8:24 לִ/צְבֹ֣א litsevo HR/Vqc to-perform-duty to muster for service
H6633-08 Numbers 31:7 וַֽ/יִּצְבְּאוּ֙ vayitsebeu HC/Vqw3mp And they warred And they mustered for service
H6633-02 Numbers 31:42 הַ/צֹּבְאִֽים hatsoveim HTd/Vqrmpa who went to war the ones serving in the host
H6633-03 1 Samuel 2:22 הַ/צֹּ֣בְא֔וֹת hatsoveot HTd/Vqrfpa who assembled the women serving in organized duty
H6633-01 2 Kings 25:19 הַ/מַּצְבִּ֖א hamatsebi HTd/Vhrmsa who-mustered the one mobilizing for service
H6633-02 Isaiah 29:7 הַ/צֹּבְאִ֖ים hatsoveim HTd/Vqrmpa who fight the ones serving in the host
H6633-07 Isaiah 29:7 צֹבֶ֨י/הָ֙ tsoveyha HVqrmpc/Sp3fs those who fight against her her host-serving ones
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