חַרְצֻבָּה (char.tsub.bah)
char.tsub.bah
bond
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun charṣubbâ denotes a physical restraint, specifically a bond or fetter used to secure a person’s hands. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within poetic texts that describe intense suffering. In these contexts, the word captures the visceral reality of being bound, emphasizing the loss of freedom and physical control.
Lexical sources also identify a secondary meaning: "pangs," particularly those associated with childbirth or acute pain. This semantic range suggests a metaphorical link between physical binding and the tightening grip of severe distress. The imagery conveys not just restriction, but the inescapable pressure of affliction that holds a person fast.
Its rare usage limits its theological footprint but intensifies its impact. When employed in Psalms or Isaiah, it underscores the depth of human vulnerability before God. Translators typically render it as "bonds" or "pangs," depending on whether the context emphasizes physical captivity or internal agony. The word serves as a stark reminder of the tangible weight of suffering in biblical poetry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word charṣubbâ describes a heavy bond or fetter, something that physically holds a person fast. It appears in Scripture to depict both the crushing weight of personal suffering and the injustice of captivity. When you feel bound by anxiety, guilt, or the circumstances of life, this imagery reminds you that your pain is real and seen.
Yet the same word also points toward liberation. In Isaiah 58:6, God calls His people to release these bonds from others. This shows that faith is not just about enduring hardship but also about actively breaking chains of oppression. Your freedom in Christ means you are no longer held by sin or fear.
Even when life feels restrictive, remember that God specializes in setting the captives free. Whether you are facing internal pangs or external pressures, His grace offers a way out. You are invited to rest in the truth that no bond is stronger than His redeeming love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] bonds of1×
- [are] pangs1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חַרְצֻבּ֥וֹת1×
- חַרְצֻבּ֣וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 58:6
“Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
This verse uses the word to describe the unjust restraints God commands His people to break, linking physical bondage to social justice.