← H675 H677 →

אֶצְבַּע

𐤀𐤑𐤁𐤏

ʼetsbaʻ

H676 noun

SILEX Entry

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

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

Root Family

צבע (Tsiveon) — to dye, to color, to tinge

Root צבע to grasp, take hold, seize
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6641 צָבוּעַ dyed-patterned one
H6647 צְבַע the ones immersing
H6648 צֶבַע host of
H6649 צִבְעוֹן to Variegated-One
H6650 צְבֹעִים the Hyenas

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H676-04 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger 9
H676-07 אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger his finger 4
H676-02 בְּ/אֶצְבַּ֣ע beetseba HR/Ncfsc with finger with a grasping-finger with the finger 2
H676-06 אֶצְבַּ֥ע etseba HNcfsc of the finger grasping-finger of finger of 2
H676-09 אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽי/ו etsebeotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his-fingers his fingers his fingers 2
H676-10 אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑י/ךָ etsebeoteykha HNcfpc/Sp2ms of your fingers your grasping-fingers your fingers 2
H676-12 וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹ֣ת veetsebeot HC/Ncfpc and fingers and grasping-digits of and fingers 2
H676-01 אַצְבָּע֖וֹת atsebaot HNcfpa fingers grasping digits fingers 1
H676-03 בְּ/אֶצְבָּעֶ֑/ךָ beetsebaekha HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms with your finger with your finger with your finger 1
H676-05 בְּ/אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽי/ו beetsebeotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms with his fingers with his grasping-digits with his fingers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H676-06 Exodus 8:15 אֶצְבַּ֥ע etseba HNcfsc The finger of grasping-finger of finger of
H676-03 Exodus 29:12 בְּ/אֶצְבָּעֶ֑/ךָ beetsebaekha HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms with your finger with your finger with your finger
H676-02 Exodus 31:18 בְּ/אֶצְבַּ֥ע beetseba HR/Ncfsc with the finger with a grasping-finger with the finger
H676-07 Leviticus 4:6 אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger his finger
H676-07 Leviticus 4:17 אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 4:25 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 4:30 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 4:34 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 8:15 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-07 Leviticus 9:9 אֶצְבָּע/וֹ֙ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger his finger
H676-07 Leviticus 14:16 אֶצְבָּע֣/וֹ etsebao HNcfsc/Sp3ms his finger his finger his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 14:16 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֛/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 14:27 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֣/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-11 Leviticus 16:14 בְ/אֶצְבָּע֛/וֹ veetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 16:14 בְּ/אֶצְבָּעֽ/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Leviticus 16:19 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-04 Numbers 19:4 בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֑/וֹ beetsebao HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his finger with his finger with his finger
H676-02 Deuteronomy 9:10 בְּ/אֶצְבַּ֣ע beetseba HR/Ncfsc with finger with a grasping-finger with the finger
H676-12 2 Samuel 21:20 וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹ֣ת veetsebeot HC/Ncfpc and fingers and grasping-digits of and fingers
H676-12 2 Samuel 21:20 וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹ֨ת veetsebeot-2 HC/Ncfpc and toes and grasping-digits of and toes
H676-09 Isaiah 2:8 אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽי/ו etsebeotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his-fingers his fingers his fingers
H676-09 Isaiah 17:8 אֶצְבְּעֹתָי/ו֙ etsebeotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his-fingers his fingers his fingers
H676-06 Isaiah 58:9 אֶצְבַּ֖ע etseba HNcfsa of the finger grasping-finger of the finger of
H676-15 Isaiah 59:3 וְ/אֶצְבְּעוֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם veetsebeoteykhem HC/Ncfpc/Sp2mp and your fingers and your fingers and your fingers
H676-01 Jeremiah 52:21 אַצְבָּע֖וֹת atsebaot HNcfpa fingers grasping digits fingers
H676-10 Psalms 8:4 אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑י/ךָ etsebeoteykha HNcfpc/Sp2ms of your fingers your grasping-fingers your fingers
H676-08 Psalms 144:1 אֶ֝צְבְּעוֹתַ֗/י etsebeotay HNcfpc/Sp1cs my fingers my grasping fingers my fingers
H676-05 Proverbs 6:13 בְּ/אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽי/ו beetsebeotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms with his fingers with his grasping-digits with his fingers
H676-10 Proverbs 7:3 אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑י/ךָ etsebeoteykha HNcfpc/Sp2ms your fingers your grasping-fingers your fingers
H676-13 Song of Songs 5:5 וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹתַ/י֙ veetsebeotay HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs and my fingers my grasping-fingers and my fingers
H676-14 1 Chronicles 20:6 וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹתָ֤י/ו veetsebeotayv HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms and his fingers his fingers his fingers
← H675 Hebrew Lexicon H677 →