צֹאן (tson)
tson
flock
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 211 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tson refers to a flock, specifically comprising sheep and goats. It functions as a collective term for small cattle, distinguishing them from larger herds like oxen. In the narrative of Genesis, this word appears frequently to describe the wealth of patriarchs such as Abraham and Jacob, highlighting livestock as a primary measure of prosperity (Genesis 13:5; 26:14).
Its etymology suggests a root meaning "to migrate," which fits the nature of these animals that move together in groups. The word is versatile enough to describe literal herds tended by shepherds, as seen when David guards his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 17:15), but also serves as a metaphor for people. Prophets like Jeremiah use it to depict Israel as a scattered flock or a community under divine care (Jeremiah 50:6).
Translators often render tson simply as "sheep" or "flock," though the Hebrew term encompasses both species. This distinction matters because biblical law sometimes treats them as a single unit of value, while other texts specify individual animals using different words. The imagery remains central to understanding pastoral metaphors in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tson describes a group of sheep and goats moving together as one unit. In the ancient world, this was more than just livestock; it represented security, provision, and family heritage. When we read about Abraham or Jacob managing their flocks, we see people caring for what they valued most. This image helps us understand how God views His people—not as isolated individuals, but as a community under His watchful care.
Even when these animals were scattered or faced danger, the shepherd’s role was to gather and protect them. You do not need to be an expert in ancient agriculture to feel the comfort in this metaphor. It reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves. Our lives are held within a community that is sustained by divine provision and guidance.
Whether you are looking at historical accounts of wealth or spiritual lessons about belonging, tson points to the idea of shared life. We find safety in numbers when those numbers are led with wisdom and love. This perspective offers a quiet hope that we are never truly alone in our daily walks.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 211 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ flock39×
- sheep37×
- the/ sheep25×
- and/ sheep11×
- [the] flock of10×
- sheep/ your6×
- sheep/ his6×
- flock/ your6×
- flock[s]/ your5×
- [the] flock5×
- like <the>/ flock4×
- like <the>/ sheep3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/צֹּ֔אן15×
- צֹ֥אן13×
- הַ/צֹּ֖אן13×
- הַ/צֹּ֑אן10×
- צֹֽאן\׃9×
- הַ/צֹּֽאן\׃9×
- צֹ֣אן7×
- צֹ֤אן6×
- צֹ֔אן6×
- הַ/צֹּאן֙5×
- וְ/צֹ֣אן4×
- צֹאנֽ/וֹ\׃3×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 4:4
Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
This verse highlights the firstborn of the flock as an offering, showing how tson represented the best of one's provision and devotion to God.
-
Genesis 29:2
He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large.
The gathering of multiple flocks at a single well illustrates the communal nature of tson, where individual animals relied on shared resources for survival.
-
Genesis 30:40
Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in Laban’s flock. He put his own droves apart, and didn’t put them into Laban’s flock.
Here Jacob separates the lambs from the main flock, demonstrating how tson could be divided to manage different groups while maintaining their identity as a single herd.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word tson mean?
Is tson used only for literal animals in the Bible?
How is tson different from other words for sheep?
Every Occurrence (211 verses across 29 books)
Genesis 50 verses
Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
Genesis 12:16He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female…
Genesis 13:5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.
Genesis 20:14Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his…
Genesis 21:27Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant.
Genesis 21:28Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
Genesis 24:35Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male…
Genesis 26:14He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him.
Genesis 27:9Go now to the flock and get me two good young goats from there. I will make them savory food for your father, such as…
Genesis 29:2He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they…
Genesis 29:3There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the…
Genesis 29:6He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
Genesis 29:7He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go…
Genesis 29:8They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then…
Genesis 29:9While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them.
Genesis 29:10When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob…
Genesis 30:31Laban said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I…
Genesis 30:32I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among…
Genesis 30:36He set three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
Genesis 30:38He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. They…
Genesis 30:39The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks produced streaked, speckled, and spotted.
Genesis 30:40Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in Laban’s flock. He…
Genesis 30:41Whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, Jacob laid the rods in front of the eyes of the flock in the watering…
Genesis 30:42but when the flock were feeble, he didn’t put them in. So the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.
Genesis 30:43The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 31:4Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,
Genesis 31:8If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your…
Genesis 31:10During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock…
Genesis 31:12He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and…
Genesis 31:19Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s.
Genesis 31:38“These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t…
Genesis 31:41These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for…
Genesis 31:43Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all…
Genesis 33:13Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young,…
Genesis 34:28They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, that which was in the city, that which was in the field,
Genesis 37:2This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his…
Genesis 37:12His brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
Genesis 37:14He said to him, “Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again.”…
Genesis 38:12After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to…
Genesis 38:13Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
Genesis 38:17He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
Genesis 45:10You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your…
Genesis 46:32These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds,…
Genesis 46:34that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our…
Genesis 47:1Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks, their herds, and all…
Genesis 47:3Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we,…
Genesis 47:4They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’…
Genesis 47:17They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and…
Genesis 50:8all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds,…