צָמִיד
𐤑𐤌𐤉𐤃
tsâmîyd
H6781 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fastening or clasp, most often worn as an ornamental ring or band around the wrist, forearm, or ankle (bracelet, armlet); in rare contexts, also refers to a covering or lid that closes or fastens an object. The primary usage denotes a piece of jewelry designed to encircle and secure onto the body, typically as a decorative ornament, but occasionally used in more functional senses such as a fastener for containers or objects.
Semantic Range
bracelet, armlet, wrist-band, fastening ring, clasp, lid, cover (that fastens or closes), band (as for jewelry or technical fitting)
Root / Etymology
Root is צמד (ts-m-d), meaning 'to join closely, to bind together, to pair'. צָמִיד derives from the root idea of 'that which binds, fastens, or joins', and as a noun refers to an item that fastens or encircles, such as a bracelet or a lid. The form is a masculine noun with a concrete semantic connection to the notion of fastening or binding through close association.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical contexts, צָמִיד most frequently describes jewelry, such as bracelets or armlets provided as gifts or signs of honor (see Genesis 24:22, 30, 47). The term appears primarily in narrative descriptions, often associated with women's adornment, but sometimes with men as in the gifting of jewelry. On rare occasions (e.g., Exodus 25:28; Numbers 4:6, 8), צָמִיד refers to the rings or clasps used to secure the poles for carrying the Ark and tabernacle furniture, extending the semantic scope to technical fittings that bind or fasten. Later biblical Hebrew sometimes extends the sense further to refer to 'lids' or 'covers' that close or fasten objects. The English 'bracelet' or 'arm-clasp' reflects the primary sense but may obscure the underlying notion of fastening or binding. The meaning neither carries theological weight nor designates ethnic or religious identity. In Phases of Hebrew outside the Bible, derivative meanings focus on decorative or functional fasteners. The spelling variant צָמִד appears only contextually and does not alter meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or צָמִד; from צָמַד; a bracelet or arm-clasp; generally, a lid; bracelet, covering.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צמד (ts-m-d) — to bind, to join closely, to pair
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6781-03 |
צְמִידִים֙ | tsemidim | HNcmpa |
bracelets | fastening bands | 3 |
H6781-04 |
וְ/הַ/צְּמִידִ֖ים | vehatsemidim | HC/Td/Ncmpa |
and the bracelets | and the fastening-bands | 1 |
H6781-02 |
צָמִ֥יד | tsamid | HNcmsc |
covering | binding-clasp | 1 |
H6781-05 |
וְ/צָמִ֔יד | vetsamid | HC/Ncmsa |
and-bracelet | binding band | 1 |
H6781-01 |
הַ/צְּמִדִים֮ | hatsemidim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the bracelets | the binding-bands | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6781-03 |
Genesis 24:22 | צְמִידִים֙ | tsemidim | HNcmpa |
bracelets | fastening bands |
H6781-01 |
Genesis 24:30 | הַ/צְּמִדִים֮ | hatsemidim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the bracelets | the binding-bands |
H6781-04 |
Genesis 24:47 | וְ/הַ/צְּמִידִ֖ים | vehatsemidim | HC/Td/Ncmpa |
and the bracelets | and the fastening-bands |
H6781-02 |
Numbers 19:15 | צָמִ֥יד | tsamid | HNcmsc |
covering | binding-clasp |
H6781-05 |
Numbers 31:50 | וְ/צָמִ֔יד | vetsamid | HC/Ncmsa |
and-bracelet | binding band |
H6781-03 |
Ezekiel 16:11 | צְמִידִים֙ | tsemidim | HNcmpa |
bracelets | fastening bands |
H6781-03 |
Ezekiel 23:42 | צְמִידִים֙ | tsemidim | HNcmpa |
bracelets | fastening bands |