בָּצֵק (ba.tseq)
ba.tseq
to swell
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb baṣeq describes a physical swelling, specifically the formation of blisters or boils on the skin. It appears in only two verses in the Old Testament, both within the narrative of the plagues delivered against Egypt. In Exodus 9:8-10 and Deuteronomy 28:27, it refers to the painful affliction that breaks out as sores, marking a direct judgment upon the body.
Its usage is highly specific to medical or pathological imagery rather than general inflation. The word emphasizes the visible, raised nature of the injury, serving as a tangible sign of divine intervention in history. Translators typically render it as "boils" or "swellings," capturing the acute physical distress described in these ancient texts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word baṣeq describes a physical swelling or blistering of the skin. While it appears in only two verses in the Old Testament, its meaning is clear: it refers to painful sores that break out on the body. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, this term highlights the contrast between God’s protection and His judgment.
For your faith, this word reminds us of God’s sustaining power during difficult times. The verses using baṣeq show that when God is with His people, their bodies remain strong and unharmed. It offers comfort that He preserves us from the afflictions that can overwhelm others. This physical care reflects His deeper spiritual provision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they became swollen1×
- it swelled1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָצֵֽקוּ\׃1×
- בָצֵ֑קָה1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 8:4
Your clothing didn’t grow old on you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years.
This verse uses baṣeq to emphasize God's protection during the forty years in the wilderness, showing that physical weakness did not overcome Israel because of His care.
-
Nehemiah 9:21
“Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.
Here, baṣeq is recalled as part of a prayer thanking God for sustaining His people, highlighting that their bodies remained free from painful swelling due to divine provision.