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אֶצְבַּע

𐤀𐤑𐤁𐤏

ʼetsbaʻ

H676 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צבע to grasp, take hold, seize

Definition

A finger (of the hand), or by extension a toe (of the foot); the anatomical digit of humans or animals, especially the finger, sometimes used metaphorically to refer to a small amount, to point out, or to emphasize a minor part. The primary sense is anatomical, but occasionally used in idioms or descriptive phrases; rarely, as a measure of width (see Historical & Contextual Notes).

Semantic Range

finger, toe, digit (finger or toe), fingerbreadth (unit of measure), a small part, figuratively pointing or indicating

Root / Etymology

From the root צבע, which likely conveys the idea of 'to grasp' or 'to take hold.' The relationship between the root and the noun is not entirely clear, but אֶצְבַּע primarily refers to the digit(s) used for grasping, i.e., the fingers. Some etymological connection has been proposed with the Arabic 'ṣabʿ' and the Aramaic/Syriac cognates, all meaning 'finger.' The term’s formation suggests the sense of an object used to hold or grasp.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אֶצְבַּע is used predominantly for human fingers (e.g., Exod 8:17, Exod 31:18), and less often of toes (Lev 8:23–24). When referring to toes, the word requires contextual clarification (such as 'of the foot'), as it is more generically 'digit.' The finger could serve as a point of measurement (e.g., Exod 25:25, a 'fingerbreadth'), and phrases such as 'the finger of God' (Exod 8:19, Exod 31:18) express a specific idiom conveying divine agency in action. In narrative and legislation, the word is descriptive rather than symbolic, and conveys neither mystical nor cultic meaning by itself. English translations reliably render the anatomical sense, though the broader semantic range (small measure, pointing, minor part) may be lost. There is no significant shift in meaning between the periods of biblical literature, though some late tannaitic and mishnaic sources expand its use for units of measure.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as צֶבַע (in the sense of grasping); something to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe; finger, toe.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צבע (ṣ-b-ʿ) — to grasp, take hold, seize

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6641 צָבוּעַ dyed-patterned one
H6647 צְבַע the ones immersing
H6648 צֶבַע dyed fabrics
H6649 צִבְעוֹן to Variegated-One
H6650 צְבֹעִים the Hyenas

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H676-04 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger 9
H676-07 אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger 4
H676-12 וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹ֣ת veetsebeot HC/Ncfpc and fingers and grasping-digits of 2
H676-02 בְּ/אֶצְבַּ֥ע beetseba HR/Ncfsc with finger with a grasping-finger 2
H676-06 אֶצְבַּ֥ע etseba HNcfsc of the finger grasping-finger of 2
H676-10 אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑י/ךָ etsebeoteykha HNcfpc/Sp2ms of your fingers your grasping-fingers 2
H676-09 אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽי/ו etsebeotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his-fingers his fingers 2
H676-13 וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹתַ/י֙ veetsebeotay HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs and my fingers my grasping-fingers 1
H676-05 בְּ/אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽי/ו beetsebeotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms with his fingers with his grasping-digits 1
H676-11 בְ/אֶצְבָּע֛/וֹ veetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger 1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H676-06 Exodus 8:15 אֶצְבַּ֥ע etseba HNcfsc The finger of grasping-finger of
H676-03 Exodus 29:12 בְּ/אֶצְבָּעֶ֑/ךָ beetsebaekha HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms with your finger with your finger
H676-02 Exodus 31:18 בְּ/אֶצְבַּ֥ע beetseba HR/Ncfsc with the finger with a grasping-finger
H676-07 Leviticus 4:6 אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger
H676-07 Leviticus 4:17 אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 4:25 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 4:30 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 4:34 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 8:15 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger
H676-07 Leviticus 9:9 אֶצְבָּע/וֹ֙ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger
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