צְבִיָּה (tse.viy.yah)
tse.viy.yah
gazelle
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tseviyyah refers to a gazelle or a young doe, appearing as a variant spelling of the more common tsevi (H6643). In the Hebrew Bible, this word is rare, occurring only once in Song of Solomon 2:9. There, it serves as a vivid metaphor for the beloved, comparing his appearance to that of a swift and graceful animal.
This single usage highlights the term’s poetic function rather than its zoological precision. The image evokes agility, beauty, and alertness, qualities traditionally associated with gazelles in ancient Near Eastern literature. By employing this specific term, the text emphasizes the lover’s dynamic presence and striking physical appeal within the context of romantic admiration.
Translators typically render tseviyyah as "gazelle" or "doe," preserving the sense of delicate strength found in the original Hebrew. Its scarcity in Scripture underscores its specialized role in lyrical poetry, where animal imagery is used to convey human emotions and attributes without literal comparison.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tseviyyah appears only once in Scripture, found in Song of Solomon 4:5. Here it describes the beloved’s beauty using the image of a young gazelle or roe deer. This rare term captures agility, grace, and alertness, qualities that ancient readers would immediately recognize as signs of vitality and charm.
When we encounter such poetic language, we are invited to appreciate the depth of human affection and the beauty God has woven into creation. The text uses this vivid metaphor not for scientific accuracy but to express the dynamic presence and striking appeal of the one being admired. It reminds us that love can be expressed with both tenderness and energy.
In our own lives, we might find comfort in knowing that Scripture values the fullness of human experience, including romantic admiration. This single usage highlights how poetry can convey emotions that straightforward prose cannot, offering a window into the heart’s capacity for joy and connection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a gazelle1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צְבִיָּ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 4:5
Your two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a roe, which feed among the lilies.
This verse uses tseviyyah to compare the beloved's physical attributes to twin fawns, emphasizing grace and vitality within a romantic context.