עָצֵב (a.tsev)
a.tsev
worker
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun atsev refers to a worker or toiler, describing someone engaged in sustained physical effort. Its root sense connects labor with suffering, suggesting that the act of working is often experienced as painful or burdensome. This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 53:5, where it describes the Messiah’s experience.
In this specific context, the text states that he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. The term emphasizes the physical toll and the pain inherent in his work of atonement. Translators typically render it as "wounded" or "stricken," capturing the idea of one who has been broken through labor.
The uniqueness of this usage highlights a profound theological point: the servant’s work is not merely productive but participatory, sharing in the pain of those he serves. The word reminds readers that true service often involves personal cost and suffering, as seen in the prophetic vision of Isaiah.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word atsev describes a worker whose toil is marked by pain. It appears only once in Scripture, in Isaiah 53:5. Here it refers to the Suffering Servant who was wounded for our transgressions. His labor was not just productive but participatory, sharing in the suffering of those he came to save.
This image reminds us that true service often involves personal cost. When we face hardship or feel burdened by our duties, we are not alone. Christ’s example shows that God understands the weight of our struggles and the pain inherent in faithful living.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- laborers/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַצְּבֵי/כֶ֖ם1×