אֶצְעָדָה
𐤀𐤑𐤏𐤃𐤄
ʼetsʻâdâh
H685 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of ornamental chain, typically worn around the ankle or wrist, made of interlinked steps or links; in biblical Hebrew, refers to a decorative piece of jewelry, most often understood as an anklet, but also applied to bracelets depending on context. The term denotes a form of ornamentation characterized by its chain-like structure, often associated with ceremonial or festive attire.
Semantic Range
ornamental chain, anklet, bracelet, decorative jewelry chain; a chain worn on the ankle or wrist, step-chain
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root צעד (tsʿd), meaning 'to step' or 'to stride', with the prefix א- likely denoting a substantive formation. The underlying sense relates to 'steps' or 'stepping', and the term becomes specialized for a type of jewelry, presumably connected to movement (as anklets move with the step). Thus, אֶצְעָדָה is a 'step-chain', a chain worn on the body, most commonly the ankle, but occasionally the wrist.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, the אֶצְעָדָה appears in lists of women's adornments (e.g., Isaiah 3:19, Numbers 31:50), usually alongside other personal ornaments. The term is usually rendered 'anklet' in modern translations, reflecting its likely function, but older translations (including KJV) often use 'bracelet'. Archaeological evidence from the ancient Near East supports the use of both anklets and bracelets among Israelite women. The distinction between אֶצְעָדָה (step-chain, likely anklet) and צְעָדָה (chain, bracelet) is small but may reflect functional or stylistic differences; the former may specifically refer to chains worn on the feet. Later Jewish literature often broadens the sense to include various forms of chain-link jewelry. The term does not carry religious or social connotations in the biblical texts, but is a descriptor of material culture and luxury. The use of 'bracelet' in older translations stems from the ambiguity in ancient jewelry types, but 'anklet' suits the likely sense in context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a variation from צְעָדָה; properly, a step-chain; by analogy, a bracelet; bracelet, chain.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צעד (ts-ʿ-d) — to step, to stride, to pace
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4703 | מִצְעָד | in his steps |
| H6805 | צָעַד | in your stepping |
| H6806 | צַעַד | step |
| H6807 | צְעָדָה | the ankle-chain |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H685-01 |
אֶצְעָדָ֣ה | etseadah | HNcfsa |
anklet | step-chain | 1 |
H685-02 |
וְ/אֶצְעָדָה֙ | veetseadah | HC/Ncfsa |
and the bracelet | step-chain | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H685-01 |
Numbers 31:50 | אֶצְעָדָ֣ה | etseadah | HNcfsa |
anklet | step-chain |
H685-02 |
2 Samuel 1:10 | וְ/אֶצְעָדָה֙ | veetseadah | HC/Ncfsa |
and the bracelet | step-chain |