צָעַד
𐤑𐤏𐤃
tsâʻad
H6805 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To take a step, walk deliberately or with measured movement; to proceed, march, or move forward by stepping. The verb can express physical stepping or marching, as well as figurative progress or movement. It is most often used for walking or advancing one’s foot, especially in a measured or formal manner.
Semantic Range
to step, to stride, to walk (with measured pace), to march, to proceed, to move forward, (rarely in causative) to cause to march, to cast down, to hurl
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology: From the root צעד, which fundamentally means 'to step' or 'to stride.' The verb form denotes the action of stepping, moving one’s foot forward. In derived forms (such as participles and some noun forms), it can denote one who walks/marches or the act/location of walking, but the root itself is associated specifically with stepping or advancing by foot.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, צָעַד appears both in literal contexts (people physically stepping or walking) and in more formal or poetic usage (e.g., marching in processions, walking with dignity). The verb is less common than other general terms for walking (such as הלך), and it often has the nuance of precise, measured, or deliberate movement (as opposed to casual wandering). In some contexts, a causative form can mean 'to cause to march' or, in rare cases, 'to cast down' or 'hurl'—a figurative extension from the action of stepping downward. The standard English translations usually render it as 'step,' 'walk,' or 'march,' which captures much but not all of its nuance, as the aspect of deliberate pacing or formal movement may be missed. Its use is distinct from הלך ('to go, walk' in general), and focuses on the stepping stride rather than the journey or destination.
Translation Consistency
'Walk' is the most natural, general English verb that covers the primary sense of צָעַד — taking measured steps, advancing, or proceeding. It easily handles literal walking, marching/striding in context, and figurative movement, and will produce natural inflected forms across all occurrences.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to pace, i.e. step regularly; (upward) to mount; (along) to march; (down and causatively) to hurl; bring, go, march (through), run over.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
צעד (ts-ʿ-d) — stepping, striding, marching
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4703 | מִצְעָד | in his steps |
| H6806 | צַעַד | step |
| H6807 | צְעָדָה | the ankle-chain |
| H685 | אֶצְעָדָה | step-chain |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6805-01 |
בְּ/צַעְדְּ/ךָ֙ | betsaedekha | HR/Vqc/Sp2ms |
when-you-marched | in your stepping | in your stepping | 2 |
H6805-03 |
צָעֲדָ֖ה | tsaadah | HVqp3fs |
run | she stepped | she stepped | 1 |
H6805-04 |
צָעֲד֛וּ | tsaadu | HVqp3cp |
they had gone | they strode | they strode | 1 |
H6805-07 |
יִצְעָ֑דוּ | yitseadu | HVqi3mp |
they walk | they will stride | they walk | 1 |
H6805-06 |
יִצְעָֽד | yitsead | HVqi3ms |
he went | he steps forward | he steps forward | 1 |
H6805-05 |
וְ֝/תַצְעִדֵ֗/הוּ | vetatseidehu | HC/Vhi3fs/Sp3ms |
and it marches him | and she will cause him to march | and it will march him | 1 |
H6805-02 |
תִּצְעַד | titsead | HVqi2ms |
you march | you stride | you stride | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6805-03 |
Genesis 49:22 | צָעֲדָ֖ה | tsaadah | HVqp3fs |
run | she stepped | she stepped |
H6805-01 |
Judges 5:4 | בְּ/צַעְדְּ/ךָ֙ | betsaedekha | HR/Vqc/Sp2ms |
when-you-marched | in your stepping | in your stepping |
H6805-04 |
2 Samuel 6:13 | צָעֲד֛וּ | tsaadu | HVqp3cp |
they had gone | they strode | they strode |
H6805-07 |
Jeremiah 10:5 | יִצְעָ֑דוּ | yitseadu | HVqi3mp |
they walk | they will stride | they walk |
H6805-02 |
Habakkuk 3:12 | תִּצְעַד | titsead | HVqi2ms |
you march | you stride | you stride |
H6805-01 |
Psalms 68:8 | בְּ/צַעְדְּ/ךָ֖ | betsaedekha | HR/Vqc/Sp2ms |
when You marched | in your stepping | in your stepping |
H6805-06 |
Proverbs 7:8 | יִצְעָֽד | yitsead | HVqi3ms |
he went | he steps forward | he steps forward |
H6805-05 |
Job 18:14 | וְ֝/תַצְעִדֵ֗/הוּ | vetatseidehu | HC/Vhi3fs/Sp3ms |
and it marches him | and she will cause him to march | and it will march him |