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צְבַע

𐤑𐤁𐤏

tsᵉbaʻ

H6647 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To immerse or dip something into a liquid, typically with the intent to wet, moisten, or soak. The sense of the word includes any act of submerging or plunging an item—especially textiles or objects—into a fluid, often as part of a process such as dyeing, washing, or ritual preparation. In Aramaic contexts, commonly associated with manual or domestic activities involving liquids.

Semantic Range

to dip, to immerse, to wet, to soak, to submerge (in liquid); by extension, to dye (by immersion)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Aramaic root צ-ב-ע, which corresponds to the Hebrew root צ-ב-ע (ts-b-ʻ), whose core meaning is 'to dip' or 'to immerse.' In Aramaic, the form denotes a more general process of dipping or immersing, rather than specifically dyeing, which in Hebrew is more commonly implied by the noun form. The verb is related to other Semitic cognates involving immersion in liquid.

Historical & Contextual Notes

This verb appears exclusively in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (such as Daniel and Ezra), not in standard Hebrew narrative or law prose. Its core meaning remains stable—primarily indicating a concrete, physical action involving fluids rather than any figurative or extended sense. While the Hebrew noun צֶבַע can mean both 'dye' and 'color,' the Aramaic verb is focused on the act of dipping or submerging, often as part of a craft or practical procedure. English translations frequently render it as 'to dip' or 'to immerse,' but these can miss the broader physicality of the process, which may include soaking or saturating for a purpose.

Translation Consistency

primary "dip" 0 occurrences

Tsᵉbaʻ typically denotes putting or plunging an object into a liquid (for wetting, dyeing, washing). 'Dip' is the natural, everyday transitive verb that best captures the common sense of brief immersion and covers the typical domestic/ritual uses without being overly formal.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"wet" (4x) "drenched" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) a root corresponding to that of צֶבַע; to dip; wet.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

צבע (ts-b-ʿ) — to dip, to immerse, to wet

Root צבע to dip, to immerse, to wet
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6641 צָבוּעַ dyed-patterned one
H6648 צֶבַע dyed fabrics
H6649 צִבְעוֹן to Variegated-One
H6650 צְבֹעִים the Hyenas
H676 אֶצְבַּע grasping digits

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6647-02 יִצְטַבַּ֔ע yitsetaba AVMi3ms is-wet he will immerse himself was wet 4
H6647-01 מְצַבְּעִ֔ין metsabein AVprmpa wet the ones immersing they will wet 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6647-02 Daniel 4:12 יִצְטַבַּ֔ע yitsetaba AVMi3ms it was wet he will immerse himself it will be drenched
H6647-02 Daniel 4:20 יִצְטַבַּ֗ע yitsetaba AVMi3ms it-will-be-wet he will immerse himself it will be wet
H6647-01 Daniel 4:22 מְצַבְּעִ֔ין metsabein AVprmpa wet the ones immersing they will wet
H6647-02 Daniel 4:30 יִצְטַבַּ֑ע yitsetaba AVMi3ms is-wet he will immerse himself was wet
H6647-02 Daniel 5:21 יִצְטַבַּ֑ע yitsetaba AVMi3ms was wet he will immerse himself was wet
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