בֶּ֫צַע (be.tsa)
be.tsa
unjust-gain
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun betsa refers to profit or gain obtained through violence and injustice. It describes wealth that is not earned through honest labor but seized from others by force, deceit, or exploitation. In the Hebrew Bible, this word carries a strong moral condemnation, highlighting the ethical corruption involved in acquiring property at the expense of another’s rights or safety.
This term appears frequently in wisdom literature and prophetic warnings, particularly in Proverbs and Jeremiah. It is often paired with concepts like bribery or oppression to illustrate how social order collapses when leaders prioritize personal enrichment over justice. For instance, Proverbs 15:27 contrasts those who hate unjust gain with those who are corruptible through bribes, showing that betsa is linked to moral decay in decision-making.
The root of the word suggests a grasping or seizing action, reinforcing the idea that such gain is taken rather than given. Unlike legitimate profit, which can be part of fair exchange, betsa implies theft disguised as commerce. Translators typically render it as "unjust gain" or "ill-gotten wealth," preserving its negative connotation and warning against systems that reward exploitation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word betsa describes wealth seized through violence or deceit, a stark contrast to honest labor. It reminds us that how we acquire resources matters as much as what we possess. When gain comes at the expense of another’s rights, it carries a heavy moral weight that corrupts both the individual and the community.
Scripture consistently warns against this kind of greed. Proverbs 1:19 notes that such paths ultimately destroy those who pursue them. Instead, we are called to integrity, finding peace in righteous living rather than chasing ill-gotten advantages. This perspective helps us evaluate our own motives and choices daily.
May you find freedom in pursuing honest work and generous hearts. Let your actions reflect a commitment to justice and fairness, trusting that true security comes from God alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- unjust gain6×
- [is the] profit2×
- <of> unjust gain2×
- unjust gain/ your1×
- unjust gain/ their1×
- unjust gain/ his1×
- to/ own unjust gain/ his1×
- profit of1×
- profit1×
- cutting off/ your1×
- <the>/ unjust gain1×
- <in>/ unjust gain of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָּ֑צַע4×
- בֶּ֥צַע2×
- בֶּ֗צַע2×
- לְ/בִצְע֖/וֹ1×
- הַ/בָּ֑צַע1×
- בָּֽצַע\׃1×
- בֶּ֝֗צַע1×
- בִּצְעָ֔/ם1×
- בִּצְעֶ֑/ךָ1×
- בִּצְעֵֽ/ךְ\׃1×
- בִּצְע֛/וֹ1×
- בְּ/בֶ֣צַע1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 18:21
Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
This verse establishes leadership integrity by requiring rulers to hate unjust gain, linking moral character directly to public service.
-
Proverbs 1:19
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Here the consequence of greed is clear: pursuing ill-gotten wealth ultimately destroys the lives of those who seek it.
-
Isaiah 33:15
He who walks righteously and speaks blamelessly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil—
The righteous person is defined by despising the gain of oppressors, showing that holiness involves rejecting exploitative profit.
-
Jeremiah 22:17
But your eyes and your heart are only for your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, for oppression, and for doing violence.”
God condemns leaders whose hearts are fixed on covetousness and violence, highlighting the spiritual danger of prioritizing wealth over justice.