צְבַע (tse.va)
tse.va
to drench
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tseva is a rare word appearing only once in the Old Testament, specifically in Daniel 4:33. It carries the concrete meaning of dipping or wetting something thoroughly. In this single instance, the text describes Nebuchadnezzar’s condition as he loses his mind, using the term to convey that he was drenched or soaked by dew from heaven.
Its usage is strictly physical rather than metaphorical. The lexicon sources identify two main forms: the Pael stem indicates an active action of wetting, while the Hithpael suggests a passive state of being wet. Here, it paints a vivid picture of natural exposure, emphasizing the literal immersion in dew as part of his temporary transformation into an animal-like state.
This rarity makes its context all the more significant. By choosing a word for thorough soaking, the text underscores the completeness of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation and separation from human society. It serves as a stark, sensory detail that highlights the divine intervention affecting his physical reality, grounding the supernatural judgment in tangible, earthly elements.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tseva describes a thorough soaking, appearing only once in Scripture to depict King Nebuchadnezzar’s body drenched by heavenly dew. This vivid image captures his complete separation from human society and his temporary return to an animal-like state. It is not merely a detail of weather, but a tangible sign of divine intervention that grounded his judgment in physical reality.
For your faith, this rare term reminds us that God’s sovereignty extends over every aspect of life, even the most humiliating moments. When circumstances strip away our status or comfort, we are held by the same God who rules the kingdoms of men. The dew that soaked him was a gentle yet undeniable reminder that true wisdom comes from recognizing God’s authority.
May this assurance bring you peace in your own seasons of uncertainty. You can trust that no situation is outside His care, and that He uses even our lowest points to lead us back to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it became wet1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִצְטַבַּ֑ע1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:21
He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals’, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.
This verse uses the word to describe the physical reality of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation, showing how God’s judgment was experienced through a tangible, sensory detail of being soaked by dew.