בָּזַז (ba.zaz)
ba.zaz
to plunder
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 32 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb bazaz describes the act of seizing goods by force, meaning to plunder or despoil. It appears frequently in narratives of war and conquest, such as when Israelites take spoil from defeated cities like Ai (Joshua 8:27) or when kings raid neighboring lands (2 Chronicles 14:13). The word carries a sharp, violent energy, focusing on the physical removal of property from its owners.
Beyond simple theft, bazaz often implies total devastation. In Isaiah 10:6, it describes Assyria’s intent to trample down prey like mud in the streets, highlighting the arrogance and completeness of the destruction. The sources note that this term can apply to spoiling cities, countries, or people, emphasizing the loss suffered by the victim rather than just the gain of the aggressor.
Translators typically render bazaz as "spoil," "plunder," or "rob." Its usage in prophetic literature often serves as a warning of judgment, where God promises to turn the tables on oppressors. For instance, Isaiah 24:3 declares that the land will be utterly spoiled and plundered, using the passive form to show that the earth itself becomes the object of this violent taking.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bazaz describes the violent taking of goods, often in the heat of battle or conquest. It appears frequently in the Old Testament narratives where armies seize wealth from defeated cities. This imagery highlights the harsh reality of war and the loss suffered by those on the receiving end.
Yet this word also carries a profound theological warning. Prophets like Isaiah use it to describe God’s judgment, showing that oppressors will eventually face their own downfall. The same violence they inflicted upon others becomes the instrument of their undoing. This reminds us that justice belongs to the Lord, who sees the suffering of the weak and the exploitation of the poor.
In our daily lives, this word invites us to reflect on integrity and fairness. It challenges us to reject any form of taking what is not ours, whether through force, deceit, or abuse of power. Instead, we are called to protect the vulnerable and seek justice for those who cannot defend themselves.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they plundered4×
- and/ they plundered4×
- you will plunder2×
- we plundered2×
- to/ take as plunder2×
- they will plunder2×
- and/ they will be plundered2×
- to/ plunder1×
- to/ despoilers1×
- they will take as spoil1×
- they will plunder/ them1×
- they had taken plunder1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לָ/בֽוֹז\׃2×
- וַ/יָּבֹ֖זּוּ2×
- בָּזְז֥וּ2×
- בָּזְז֖וּ2×
- תָּבֹ֣זּוּ1×
- תָּבֹ֣ז1×
- תִּבּ֑וֹז1×
- לָ/בֹ֣ז1×
- לְ/בֹזְזֵֽי/נוּ\׃\ \ס1×
- לְ/בֹזְזִ֖ים1×
- יָבֹֽזּוּ\׃1×
- יָבֹ֣זּוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 10:2
to deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
This verse uses bazaz to condemn corrupt leaders who treat widows as spoils of war, highlighting the word's connection to injustice against the vulnerable.
-
Esther 3:13
Letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
Here the word describes the planned destruction of Jewish property, showing its use in contexts of ethnic persecution and total loss.
-
Numbers 31:9
The children of Israel took the women of Midian captive with their little ones; and all their livestock, all their flocks, and all their goods, they took as plunder.
This occurrence details the Israelites taking Midianite livestock as plunder, illustrating the term's application in sanctioned military campaigns.
-
Isaiah 24:3
The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for Yahweh has spoken this word.
The passive form is used here to show the earth itself being laid waste, emphasizing the completeness of divine judgment.