אֶצְבַּע (ets.ba)
ets.ba
finger
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 26 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun etsba refers to a finger or, by extension, a toe. Its root sense connects to grasping or seizing, highlighting the hand’s capacity for action rather than mere anatomy. In Scripture it appears in contexts ranging from ritual purity laws to descriptions of human frailty.
A defining moment occurs when Pharaoh’s magicians acknowledge the plagues as "the finger of God" in Exodus 8:19. This phrase attributes divine power directly to God’s agency, suggesting that even a small part of His hand reveals His sovereign control. Similarly, Psalm 8:3 marvels at the Creator who made the moon and stars with His fingers, using the word to convey both intimacy and immense scale.
The term also appears in legal rituals where priests apply blood with their finger (Leviticus 4) or in poetic imagery describing human vanity. In Isaiah 2:8, people worship what their own fingers have made, contrasting human craftsmanship with true divinity. The word consistently points to the instrument of deliberate action, whether divine or human.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word etsba points to a small part of the hand, yet Scripture uses it to describe immense power. When Pharaoh’s magicians saw the plagues, they called them the finger of God, recognizing that even a tiny gesture carries His sovereign authority. This reminds us that God is not distant; He acts with precision and purpose in our lives.
At the same time, this word highlights human frailty and vanity. Isaiah describes people worshiping what their own fingers have made, showing how easily we can create idols instead of trusting the Creator. The contrast is clear: our hands make things that fade, but God’s hand writes eternal truth on stone.
In your daily walk, remember that God cares about the details. He trained David’s fingers for battle and wrote the Law with His own finger. You do not need to achieve greatness on your own; simply invite Him to use your small efforts for His lasting purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 26 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ finger/ his7×
- finger/ his4×
- on/ finger/ his3×
- fingers/ his2×
- by/ [the] finger of2×
- with/ fingers/ his1×
- with/ finger/ your1×
- fingers/ your1×
- fingers/ my1×
- fingers1×
- and/ fingers/ your1×
- and/ fingers/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֔/וֹ4×
- אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ2×
- וְ/אֶצְבְּעוֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם1×
- וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹתָ֤י/ו1×
- וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹתַ/י֙1×
- וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹ֨ת1×
- וְ/אֶצְבְּעֹ֣ת1×
- בְּ/אֶצְבָּעֽ/וֹ\׃1×
- בְּ/אֶצְבָּעֶ֑/ךָ1×
- בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֣/וֹ1×
- בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֛/וֹ1×
- בְּ/אֶצְבָּע֖/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 31:18
When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.
Here the word signifies that the Ten Commandments were not merely spoken but permanently inscribed by God’s own hand, emphasizing their enduring authority.
-
Isaiah 2:8
Their land also is full of idols. They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.
The prophet contrasts human craftsmanship with true divinity, noting that people worship idols made by their own fingers rather than the Creator.
-
Psalms 144:1
By David. Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who trains my hands to war, and my fingers to battle—
David praises God for training his fingers for battle, showing how divine empowerment transforms ordinary human abilities into effective action.