בּוּס (bus)
bus
to trample
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb bus describes the physical act of treading down or trampling, often with a sense of force or contempt. In its most literal usage, it depicts warriors crushing their enemies underfoot, conveying total dominance and defeat. This imagery appears in prophetic texts where nations are humbled, emphasizing the power dynamics between conqueror and conquered.
Beyond physical violence, bus carries a strong figurative weight regarding rejection or desecration. When applied to abstract concepts or sacred things, it suggests treating something with disdain or violating its sanctity. The sources note that this can extend to the idea of kicking out or casting aside, highlighting an active dismissal rather than passive neglect.
Translators typically render bus as "trample" or "tread down," capturing both the physical pressure and the moral contempt involved. Its occurrence in books like Isaiah and Zechariah often underscores themes of divine judgment against prideful nations. The word serves as a stark reminder that actions can physically and spiritually crush what is meant to be protected.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bus describes the physical act of trampling, often carrying a heavy sense of force or contempt. In the Old Testament, it frequently depicts warriors crushing enemies underfoot, illustrating total dominance and defeat. This imagery serves as a stark reminder of the power dynamics between the conqueror and the conquered, emphasizing how prideful nations can be humbled by divine judgment.
Beyond physical violence, this verb carries significant figurative weight regarding rejection or desecration. When applied to sacred things, it suggests treating holy ground with disdain or violating its sanctity. It highlights an active dismissal rather than passive neglect, reminding us that actions can spiritually crush what is meant to be protected.
For your faith, this word underscores the seriousness of how we treat God’s sanctuary and His people. It invites reflection on the humility required before God, who alone holds the power to break yokes and tread down oppressors. May you find comfort in knowing that God defends what is holy and judges those who trample upon it with injustice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they have trodden down2×
- trodden down1×
- treading down1×
- it treads down1×
- and/ I may tread down1×
- I will tread down/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תָּב֣וּס1×
- מוּבָֽס\׃1×
- וְ/אָב֤וּס1×
- בּוֹסִ֨ים1×
- בּוֹסְס֖וּ1×
- בֹּסְס֖וּ1×
- אֲבוּסֶ֑/נּוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 14:25
that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and tread him under foot on my mountains. Then his yoke will leave them, and his burden leave their shoulders.
This verse highlights God's sovereign power to break the Assyrian yoke by treading him under foot, demonstrating divine judgment against pride.
-
Isaiah 63:18
Your holy people possessed it but a little while. Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.
Here the word describes adversaries trodding down the sanctuary, illustrating the pain of desecration and the loss of holy possession.
-
Jeremiah 12:10
Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Shepherds are described as trampling God's portion under foot, using vivid imagery to condemn the destruction of His vineyard.