בָּזֹה
𐤁𐤆𐤄
bâzôh
H960 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
An adjective meaning 'scorned,' 'despised,' or 'held in contempt.' Refers to someone or something regarded as worthless, contemptible, or treated with disdain. Can describe both persons and objects regarded with disrespect or rejected by others.
Semantic Range
scorned, despised, treated with contempt, regarded as worthless, held in low esteem
Root / Etymology
From the verbal root בָּזָה (bazah), meaning 'to despise,' 'to disdain,' 'to hold in contempt.' The formation of בָּזֹה is adjectival, describing the quality of being held in contempt, derived from the root indicating an act of scorning or despising.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The adjective בָּזֹה appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, and its use aligns with the sense of social or personal rejection—often in the context of shame, disgrace, or isolation. Its semantic range closely follows that of its root, but the adjective format highlights the ongoing condition of being despised rather than the action of despising. While English translations often render this as 'despised,' 'contemptible,' or 'scorned,' these may not capture the full social ramifications of the term in ancient Israelite society, which could imply deep exclusion or loss of status. The concept differs from related terms such as חָרֵף (ḥarēf, 'to reproach, revile') which focuses more on verbal abuse or insult, whereas בָּזֹה emphasizes social estimation and status. In later texts and traditions, the notion of being despised could take on connotations of suffering or being rejected by society or even by the divine, but in the Hebrew Bible, it remains primarily a descriptor of social position. There is no evidence in biblical usage that the term refers to a distinct social class; rather, it describes the perception of an individual's or group's worth in the eyes of others.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּזָה; scorned; despise.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בזה (b-z-h) — to despise, scorn, hold in contempt
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5240 | נְמִבְזֶה | despised one |
| H939 | בּוּזָה | despised thing |
| H959 | בָּזָה | he despised |
| H963 | בִּזָּיוֹן | state of contempt |
| H964 | בִּזְיוֹתְיָה | Despisings-of-Yah |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H960-01 |
לִ/בְזֹה | livezoh | HR/Vqc |
to-the-despised | to a despised one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H960-01 |
Isaiah 49:7 | לִ/בְזֹה | livezoh | HR/Vqc |
to-the-despised | to a despised one |