בִּצָּה (bits.tsah)
bits.tsah
swamp
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun bitsah refers to a muddy place, such as a swamp or marsh. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in the Book of Job. In these contexts, it describes a difficult, unstable terrain where one might sink or struggle.
This word carries a strong sense of physical instability. When used metaphorically, it suggests a state of being trapped or weighed down by circumstances that are hard to escape. The imagery evokes thick mud that clings and resists movement, highlighting the intensity of the speaker's distress.
Its rarity in Scripture makes its usage significant. By choosing this specific term, the biblical authors emphasize the depth and stickiness of the suffering described, rather than just general hardship. It paints a vivid picture of being stuck in a challenging situation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word bitsah describes a swamp or muddy marsh, a place where the ground is unstable and thick mud clings to your feet. In the Book of Job, this image captures the feeling of being trapped by circumstances that resist any attempt to move forward. It is not just general hardship, but a specific kind of stuckness where every step feels heavy and difficult.
When you feel weighed down by life’s challenges, this word reminds you that your struggle is real and visible. God sees the depth of your distress, even when it feels like you are sinking into mud with no clear way out. You do not have to find a quick solution on your own; His presence remains steady even when your footing is shaky.
There is comfort in knowing that Scripture does not shy away from these dark places. By naming the swamp, the biblical writers validate our pain and invite us to bring our full selves to God. We can trust that He meets us in the mire, offering stability when we feel most unstable.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- marsh1×
- and/ swamp1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בִצָּֽה\׃1×
- בִצָּ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Job 8:11
“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
This verse uses bitsah to illustrate how certain things naturally require specific conditions, highlighting the inevitability of suffering in a fallen world.
-
Job 40:21
He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
Here the word describes the habitat of Behemoth, showing that even powerful creatures find rest in unstable, muddy places under God's sovereignty.