בַּתָּה (bat.tah)
bat.tah
precipice
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun bat-tah refers to a precipice or steep cliff, emphasizing a place that is abrupt and cut off from the surrounding land. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 7:19, where it describes the harsh conditions of the Assyrian invasion. The text speaks of bees coming from distant lands to settle in the "ravines of the precipices," painting a picture of a landscape so rugged and inaccessible that even wild insects find refuge there.
This single occurrence highlights the word’s role in conveying desolation and danger. By placing the enemy’s advance in such treacherous terrain, the prophet underscores the severity of the judgment. The image suggests that no place is safe, not even the most forbidding cliffs, reinforcing the totality of the threat facing Judah.
Lexical sources note its connection to steepness and abruptness, distinguishing it from general terms for hills or mountains. Its rarity in Scripture gives it a specific, vivid impact when it does appear, anchoring the prophetic warning in a concrete, physical reality that readers can visualize.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word bat-tah describes a steep precipice or cliff edge. It appears only once in the Bible, in Isaiah 7:19. The prophet uses this image to describe the Assyrian invasion. He says enemy forces will swarm into these dangerous valleys and rock clefts. This shows that no place is safe from judgment, not even the most rugged terrain.
When life feels unstable, we often look for solid ground. This word reminds us that God sees the deepest parts of our circumstances. Even in places that seem cut off or dangerous, God’s message remains clear. He knows where we stand and where we might fall. His word anchors us when the landscape shifts.
Though the imagery is stark, it points to a deeper truth. God is sovereign over both safety and danger. We can trust Him when our path seems steep. His presence does not depend on smooth roads. He walks with us through every valley and cliff edge.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ cliffs1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/בַּתּ֔וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 7:19
They shall come, and shall all rest in the desolate valleys, in the clefts of the rocks, on all thorn hedges, and on all pastures.
This verse uses the word to depict the Assyrian army invading even the most inaccessible rock clefts, showing that no terrain is too dangerous for God's judgment.