בָּטָא
𐤁𐤈𐤀
bâṭâʼ
H981 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To speak rashly, utter without consideration, or babble. The verb indicates the act of speaking aloud, often in an uncontrolled, hasty, or ill-considered manner, especially with a negative connotation. It may refer to speaking impetuously or invoking by utterance, especially in solemn acts such as oaths or vows. The nuance is usually negative, highlighting imprudence or lack of deliberation in speech.
Semantic Range
to speak rashly, to utter carelessly, to babble, to vocalize a vow or oath unadvisedly, to blurt out
Root / Etymology
Root: בטא. Likely related to the common Semitic root representing the act of speaking or uttering, though the precise etymology is uncertain and there are no clear cognates in other Semitic languages. The form indicates an original sense of enunciation or utterance that has shifted toward hasty or careless speech.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Usage is rare and contextually specific in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in Lev 5:4, where it refers to swearing rashly with one's lips (either for evil or good). The word is distinct from other Hebrew terms for 'speaking' (e.g., אמר, דבר) in its emphasis on unreflective, impulsive utterance. While later translations have sometimes rendered this verb as 'pronounce,' 'utter,' or even 'blaspheme,' its primary semantic nuance involves ill-considered speech rather than formal vocalization or insult. Its context is often that of oaths or vows carelessly sworn, and it does not broadly denote general speech. This verb does not acquire any specialized religious or liturgical meaning in subsequent periods, and is not in common use within post-biblical Hebrew. English translations like 'babble' or 'pronounce unadvisedly' partially capture the negative sense, but may fail to convey the specific context of imprudent or rash speech—the focus is less on noise and more on the impulsivity or absence of deliberation. The secondary spelling בָּטָה reflects an alternate form rather than a distinct meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or בָּטָה; a primitive root; to babble; hence, to vociferate angrily; pronounce, speak (unadvisedly).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בטא (b-ṭ-ʾ) — uttering, speaking, pronouncing
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4008 | מִבְטָא | utterance of |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H981-04 |
יְבַטֵּ֧א | yevate | HVpi3ms |
he utters rashly | he rashly blurts out | 1 |
H981-03 |
וַ֝/יְבַטֵּ֗א | vayevate | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he spoke rashly | and he rashly uttered | 1 |
H981-01 |
בּ֭וֹטֶה | boteh | HVqrmsa |
who speaks rashly | rash-speaking one | 1 |
H981-02 |
לְ/בַטֵּ֨א | levate | HR/Vpc |
to utter rashly | to rashly utter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H981-02 |
Leviticus 5:4 | לְ/בַטֵּ֨א | levate | HR/Vpc |
to utter rashly | to rashly utter |
H981-04 |
Leviticus 5:4 | יְבַטֵּ֧א | yevate | HVpi3ms |
he utters rashly | he rashly blurts out |
H981-03 |
Psalms 106:33 | וַ֝/יְבַטֵּ֗א | vayevate | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he spoke rashly | and he rashly uttered |
H981-01 |
Proverbs 12:18 | בּ֭וֹטֶה | boteh | HVqrmsa |
who speaks rashly | rash-speaking one |