צַעְצֻעַ
𐤑𐤏𐤑𐤏
tsaʻtsuaʻ
H6816 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A carved object or ornate figure; an image, generally of artistic or decorative nature rather than cultic use. The term primarily refers to a piece shaped by human hands, emphasizing craftsmanship and embellishment rather than function as an idol or object of worship. Contexts suggest the emphasis is on the decorative, artistic nature of the object, often with a pejorative or diminutive connotation, implying a 'trinket' or 'plaything.'
Semantic Range
carved figure, ornament, decorative image, trinket, plaything, non-cultic decorative object
Root / Etymology
The word derives from the root צצע (root uncertain outside of its use in this noun), related to the idea of carving, shaping, or creating decorative objects. It likely denotes the action of fashioning or adorning with carvings, though no verb or further derivations are attested in the Hebrew Bible. The reduplication of sounds in the word supports a diminutive or imitative sense, possibly emphasizing artistry or triviality.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צַעְצֻעַ appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in contexts highlighting ornamental or decorative objects rather than cultic idols. Its diminutive, reduplicated form and morphological pattern suggest a nuance different from other Hebrew words for 'image' (like פֶּסֶל pesel, often with an overtly religious, idolatrous sense). In some prophetic texts, the word is used disparagingly to highlight the triviality or impotence of such objects, contrasting them with legitimate forms of religious art or with Yahwistic iconoclasm. In later periods and in translation, the nuance between decorative object and idol is sometimes lost, leading to conflation with 'image' or 'idol.' However, the lexical evidence in biblical Hebrew points to a more limited, often non-cultic semantic scope.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to bestrew with carvings; sculpture; image (work).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צצע (ṣ-ʿ-ṣ-ʿ) — to carve, to engrave, to fashion decoratively
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6816-01 |
צַעֲצֻעִ֑ים | tsaatsuim | HNcmpa |
of sculpture | carved ornaments | carved ornaments | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6816-01 |
2 Chronicles 3:10 | צַעֲצֻעִ֑ים | tsaatsuim | HNcmpa |
of sculpture | carved ornaments | carved ornaments |