עֹ֫צֶב (o.tsev)
o.tsev
pain; idol
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun oṣev carries two distinct meanings that rarely overlap in context: physical or emotional pain, and an idol. In its primary sense, it describes a state of sorrow or distress, often linked to the heavy burden of suffering. This usage appears in passages like Psalm 107:18, where people groan under the weight of their iniquities, illustrating a deep, internal anguish that affects the whole person.
The second meaning, idol, is more specific and striking. It appears primarily in Isaiah, such as in chapter 48, verse 5, where God contrasts His foretelling with the inability of idols to predict the future. Here, oṣev refers to a lifeless image, emphasizing its powerlessness against the living God. This dual usage highlights the contrast between the real pain of human experience and the empty nature of false worship.
Translators must carefully distinguish these meanings based on context. In most cases, oṣev points to genuine suffering or grief, reflecting the human condition under hardship. When it refers to an idol, the term underscores the futility of trusting in created things rather than the Creator. This rare word thus serves as a poignant reminder of both the reality of pain and the emptiness of misplaced devotion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word oṣev captures the heavy weight of sorrow that can settle on the heart. In Psalm 139, David invites God to search his innermost being, acknowledging that true peace comes only when we bring our hidden pains into the light of divine presence. This is not a call to hide your struggles but to trust that God sees them and desires to lead you toward life.
Isaiah 14:3 offers a profound promise of rest from this very burden. The text speaks of a day when Yahweh removes the sorrow and hard service that once weighed down His people. This assurance reminds us that our current distress is not permanent, and there is hope for relief beyond our present circumstances.
When Isaiah 48:5 mentions oṣev in the context of idols, it highlights the emptiness of false hopes. Unlike the living God who hears and responds, carved images cannot predict or prevent suffering. This contrast encourages us to place our trust only in the One who knows the end from the beginning, rather than in sources that offer no real comfort.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ pain1×
- idol/ my1×
- from/ pain/ your1×
- an idol1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֹ֥צֶב1×
- עָצְבִּ֣/י1×
- מֵֽ/עָצְבְּ/ךָ֖1×
- בְּ/עֹֽצֶב\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 4:9
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him with sorrow.”
This verse shows the word describing the deep personal sorrow of a mother, grounding the term in human emotional experience.
-
Psalms 139:24
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Here the context implies that true guidance requires bringing our inner pain and potential wickedness before God for healing.
-
Isaiah 14:3
It will happen in the day that Yahweh will give you rest from your sorrow, from your trouble, and from the hard service in which you were made to serve,
The word describes the heavy burden of sorrow from which Yahweh promises to bring rest, offering hope for relief.
-
Isaiah 48:5
therefore I have declared it to you from of old; before it came to pass I showed it to you; lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them. My engraved image and my molten image has commanded them.’
In this rare usage, the word refers to an idol, contrasting the powerlessness of false gods with God's ability to foretell events.