צָוָה
tsâvâh · H6680 · Hebrew · 494 occurrences
Meanings
-
to give orders, to order, to command, to charge, to instruct
Causative action by which deities or humans in a position of authority prescribe or instruct (other) humans how to behave or respond to a situation
ExamplesGenesis 2:16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat;
Genesis 3:11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?”
Genesis 3:17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; With hard labor you shall eat from it All the days of your life.
-
to be commanded, ordered
Causative action with which a person is instructed how to behave or respond to a situation by a higher authority, either human or divine
ExamplesGenesis 45:19 “Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come.
Exodus 34:34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded,
Leviticus 8:35 “At the doorway of the tent of meeting, moreover, you shall remain day and night for seven days and fulfill your duty to the LORD, so that you will not die; for so I have been commanded.”
-
Causative action by which God or God's power is called up for rescue or refuge (to summon, to command > to show (strength))
ExamplesPsalm 68:28 Your God has commanded your strength; Show Yourself strong, God, You who acted in our behalf.
Psalm 71:3 Be to me a rock of dwelling to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.
-
to set one's house in order > to prepare to die
Causative action with which a person puts one's house in order, that is, one's belongings and affairs, in anticipation of dying
Examples2 Samuel 17:23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; so he died and was buried in his father’s grave.
2 Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are going to die and not live.’”
-
commander
Someone who has been put into a position of authority, and is now able to prescribe the actions of others
ExamplesIsaiah 55:4 “Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, A leader and commander for the peoples.
How it’s used In 11 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
493 occurrences in 41 groups
- יְהֹוָהthe LORD, YHWH 151
- Not stated: I 84
- Not stated: he, she or it 58
- אָנֹכִיI 41
- Not stated: you (one person) 30
- מֹשֶׁהMoses 25
- Other words · 20 groups that occur once or twice (25) 25
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
356 occurrences in 76 groups
- ךָּyou 66
- מֹשֶׁהMoses 62
- וֹhim 34
- הֶםthem 33
- כֶםyou 29
- בֵּןson 17
- Other words · 57 groups that occur once or twice (71) 71
Second objectAs in “call him Lord”
7 occurrences in 5 groups
- דָּבָרword, thing, matter 4
- כֹּלall, every, whole 1
- נָגִידruler 1
- אֱמוּנָהfaithfulness, truth 1
- צֶדֶקrighteousness, justice 1
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
199 occurrences in 113 groups
- לto/for+ אָמַרto say 71
- לto/for+ עָשָׂהto do, to make 14
- בin/on/with+ יָדhand, power 13
- לto/for+ נָתַןto give, to put, to set 6
- עַלon, upon, over, against+ יִשְׂרָאֵלIsrael 5
- בin/on/with+ יוֹםday, time 5
- Other words · 97 groups that occur once or twice (112) 112
With adverbsAdverbs
23 occurrences in 5 groups
- לֹאnot 14
- כֵּןthus 5
- שָׁםthere 2
- הָלְאָהbeyond 1
- יוֹמָםby day 1
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- לְאֹםpeople 1
Named alongside itApposition
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- דָּבָרword, thing, matter 1
What it doesIt is the subject
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- נָגַדto tell, to inform, to report 1
What is done to itIt is the object
6 occurrences in 4 groups
- שָׁמַרto keep, to guard, to observe 3
- דָבַרto speak, to say 1
- לָקַחto take, to receive 1
- שָׁמַעto hear, to listen, to obey 1
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- אֵלֶּהthese 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
96 occurrences in 3 groups
- כlike/as 92
- לto/for 4
- בin/on/with 2
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
In the other Testament 4 words
- ἐντέλλομαι entéllomai · G1781 · to command
- ἐντέλλομαι (entéllomai, G1781) (ἐντέλλομαι, 'to enjoin') serves as the primary Greek translation equivalent for צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) (צָוָה, 'command, charge'), both denoting authoritative directive speech acts with the semantic core of issuing commands or orders.
- συντάσσω syntássō · G4929 · to order, to instruct, to tell
- συντάσσω (syntássō, G4929) συντάσσω emphasizes the arranging or ordering aspect of commanding, particularly in contexts of giving organized instructions or directives, while צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) צָוָה has broader application to any authoritative command, charge, or commission regardless of organizational complexity.
- προστάσσω prostássō · G4367 · to order, to instruct, to tell
- Greek προστάσσω (prostássō, G4367) represents the Greek translation equivalent of Hebrew צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) in LXX contexts, both conveying the core sense of authoritative command or directive, with προστάσσω emphasizing the directive force ('enjoin, order') that overlaps substantially with צָוָה's command semantic range.
- τάσσω tássō · G5021 · to appoint, to designate, to assign
- Greek τάσσω emphasizes the orderly arrangement or assignment aspect of commanding/appointing, focusing on positional disposition, whereas Hebrew צָוָה broadly encompasses the full range of authoritative directive speech including commanding, charging, and ordering.
Semantic domains 4 entries
- Happen002002003003
- This domain's connection to צָוָה is not directly illustrated among the sampled citations, which show the word's sense of issuing a command rather than a general occurrence.
- Speak002004001009008
- This domain's connection to צָוָה is not directly illustrated among the sampled citations, which show the word's sense of the content and authority of a command rather than the act of speaking generally.
- Arrange002002001001
- This domain's connection to צָוָה is not directly illustrated among the sampled citations, which show the word's sense of issuing a command rather than arranging or ordering objects.
- Leaders001001003005
- צָוָה means to command, the exercise of authoritative instruction, as of the LORD commanding the man in the garden in Genesis 2:16, the command Adam is reminded of in Genesis 3:11 and 3:17, and Noah's obedience to everything God commanded him in Genesis 6:22.
Word family 4 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H6680. tsavah [צָוָה]485 verb Pi`el lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command,…
[צָוָה]485 verb Pi`el lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order (BaZMG xii (1887), 641 Gerber124op. Arabic combine, II. enjoin, IV. charge; injunction, command; Thes compare Syriac , heap up (stones), , stone-heap, Arabic guide-stone, compare Schulth57; Gerber makes Hebrew verbdenominative from מִצְוָה but verb is much earlier); — Perfect3masculine singular צִוָּה Gen 6:22 +; suffix צִוַּנִי Deu 4:5 +; צִוְּךָ Deu 4:23 +; צִוָּהוּ Gen 7:5 +, etc.; 1 singular צִוִּיתִי Exo 29:35 Exo 29:29t., צִוֵּיתִי Lev 8:31 Lev 8:4t., etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יְצַוֶּה Gen 18:19 Gen 18:8t.; יְצַו Deu 28:8; וַיְצַו Gen 2:16 +; suffix וִיצַוְּךָ 1Ch 22:12, etc.; 1 Chronicles 1s. וָאֲצִוֶּה Ezr 8:17 Qr (> Kt ואוצאה); 3 masculine plural וַיְצַזּוּ Gen 50:16 +, etc.; Infinitive construct צַוֹּת 2Sa 18:5 +, etc.; Imperative masculine singular צַוֵּה Jos 4:16 + 2t.; צַו Lev 6:2 Lev 6:9t.; masculine plural צַוּוּ Jos 1:11; Jos 4:3; Participle מְצַוֶּה Num 32:23 +; construct מְצַוֵּה Isa 55:4, etc.; feminine מְצַוָּה Gen 27:8; —
1. a. lay charge upon, with עַל person, Gen 2:16 (J) Gen 28:6 (P) 1Ki 2:43; 1Ki 11:11; Amo 2:12; Jer 35:6 + 6t.; עַל of thing, מֵהַמְטִיר אֲצַוֶּה הֶעָבִים עַל Isa 5:6, compare Job 36:32, ׳צ עַלתָֿגָב2Ch 7:13.
b. give charge to, command to with לְ person Exo 1:22 (E) 1Sa 20:29; 1Ch 22:17; Isa 13:3; Jer 32:23; Psa 105:8 צ ׳תּוֺרָה משֶׁה לָנוּ Deu 33:4, compare Neh 9:14; לְבֵיתֶ֑ךָ צַו 2Ki 20:1 give charge to thy household (in preparation for death) = Isa 38:1 (compare Late Hebrew, B.Bath.151b, צַוָּאָה 'verbal will' Id147a).
c. give charge uno, with אֶל person Exo 16:34 (P), 1Ki 11:10; אֶלכֵּֿיתוֺ וַיְצַו 2Sa 17:23 (compare
b.).
d. give charge over, appoint, with accusative of person + עַל of thing, Neh 7:2; 1Ch 22:12, ׳צ עַל נָנִיד (לִהְיוֺת) appoint one (to be) ruler over 2Sa 6:21; 1Ki 1:35; with לנגיד 1Sa 13:14; 1Sa 25:30; על שׁפטים 2Sa 7:11 = 1Ch 17:10; with infinitive (no על), עמי לִרְעוֺת 2Sa 7:7 = 1Ch 17:6; לְעֵינֵיהֶם אֹתוֺ וְצִוִּיתָה Num 27:19 (P) and thou shalt install him in their sight, compare Num 27:23 (P).
e. give one charge, command (often עַל concerning), Gen 12:20 (J), Num 8:22 (P), 2Sa 14:8; 2Sa 18:5; Jer 7:22; Jer 39:11; Isa 45:12 (AV RV Che RyKau; > Ges Ew Di Du and others as d), Isa 10:6 (al. against), Nah 1:14 (al. id.); with לְ Num 9:8; Num 32:38 (P), Psa 91:11; Lam 1:17; Est 3:2; with אֶל Isa 23:11; Jer 47:7.
2 charge, command:
a. with accusative of person + thing, often, especially of the law: Deuteronomic phrases are מצוךָ אנכי אשׁר Exo 34:11 (J), Deu 4:40; Deu 6:2, Deu 6:6 Deu 6:18t. Deuteronomy, compare Deu 15:15; אתכם מצוה אנכי אשׁר Deu 4:2 (twice in verse) + 9 t. Deuteronomy; צ ׳אשׁר הַדֶּרֶךְ Deu 13:6; Deu 13:6; Exo 32:8 (E) Deu 5:30; Deu 9:12, Deu 9:16; Deu 11:28; Deu 31:29.
b. with accusative of person + object clause, e.g., Infinitive Gen 50:2+; ו consecutive Perfect Gen 18:19 (J), Num 35:2 (P); ו consecutive Imperfect 2Sa 4:12; 1Ki 2:46; weak ו with Imperfect Exo 27:20 (P) Jos 4:16; Imperative Jos 1:9; 1Sa 18:22.
c. accusative of person, accusative of thing omitted, Exo 18:23 (E) Gen 49:33 (P) +; object given after לֵאמֹר Gen 26:11; Gen 32:15, Gen 32:20; Lev 6:2 +; וַיּאֹמֶר etc., Gen 28:1; Gen 49:29 +.
d. accusative of thing, accusative of person omitted, ׳צ בריתוֺ לעולם Psa 111:9; צ ׳אֲשֶׁר ׳י הַדָּבָר וֶה, Exo 16:16, Exo 16:32; Exo 35:4; Lev 8:5; Lev 9:6; Lev 17:2; Num 30:2; Num 36:6 (P); object clause, Lev 8:34 (P), Lev 13:54 (P); Gen 42:25 (E), 1 Kings 5:20; Jdg 4:6.
e. absolute Gen 50:16 (E), Lam 3:37.
3 charge, command, accusative of person in phrase צ ׳כַּאֲשֶׁר Exo 23:15 (E) Gen 7:9 (P) +; צ אשׁר ׳ככל Gen 7:5 (J) Exo 29:35 (P) +; צ ׳כאשׁר ׳י משֶׁה Exo 12:28, Exo 12:50; Exo 39:1, Exo 39:5 Exo 39:37t. P; צ אשׁר ׳ככל ׳י משׁה Exo 39:32, Exo 39:42 + 5t. P; צ אשׁר ׳לכל Jos 1:18; Jos 22:2; Jer 35:8; accusative of person omitted צ ׳כאשׁר Exo 7:10; Num 32:25 (P) +; צ אשׁר ׳ככל 2Ki 11:9 2Ch 23:8 +; צ אשׁר ׳לכל Exo 36:1 (P).
4 charge, with command to others, commission,
a. accusative of person +אֶל person (sometimes + accusative of thing) Exo 6:13; Exo 25:22; Lev 27:34 (P) Deu 1:3; Jer 27:4; Est 4:10; accusative of person omitted Gen 50:16 (E) Est 3:12; Est 8:9.
b. בְּיַד of agent, + אֶל, Num 15:23; Num 36:13 (P); אֶל omitted Lev 8:36 (P), Ezr 9:11; Neh 8:14.
c. accusative of person + עַל for אֶל Ezr 8:17; 1Ch 22:13; Malachi 3:22; Est 4:5.
d. with accusative of thing, ׳וצ לְ כִּרְכָתִי Lev 25:21 (P) and I will command my blessing to you, with אִתְּךָ Deu 28:8, compare Psa 133:3; ׳צ חסדוֺ Psa 42:9, בֹּקֶר Job 38:12, חֶרֶב נָחָשׁ, Amo 9:3-4,.
5 command, appoint, ordain, of divine act: in creation Isa 45:12; Psa 33:9; Psa 148:5, providence 2Sa 17:4; Amo 6:11; Amo 9:9; Job 37:12; Psa 78:23; Isa 34:16, redemption Psa 7:7; Psa 44:5; Psa 68:29; Psa 71:3; so of idol Isa 48:5 (|| עשׂה).
Pu`al Perfect3masculine singular צֻוָּה Num 3:16; Num 36:2; Num 36:2masculine singular צֻוֵּיתָה Gen 45:19, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יְצֻוֶּה Exo 34:34; — be commanded, i.e. receive command, subject person, Gen 45:19 (E), with בְּ by whom Num 36:2 (P); צ ׳אשׁר Exo 34:34 (P), צ ׳כִּיכֵֿן Lev 8:35; Lev 10:13 (P), צ ׳כאשׁר Num 3:16 (P) Eze 12:7; Eze 24:18; Eze 37:7.
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 4 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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