צִיץ (tsits)
tsits
Ziz
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun tsits refers to a specific geographical location known as the Pass of Ziz, mentioned only once in the Hebrew Bible at 2 Chronicles 20:16. The name itself translates simply to "flower," likely chosen for its poetic resonance with the surrounding landscape rather than describing a botanical feature within the pass itself.
This single valley served as a strategic corridor connecting the shores of the Dead Sea to the wilderness of Judah near Tekoa. In the narrative, it is the place where King Jehoshaphat positions his army to face the invading forces, marking it as a site of divine intervention rather than military might.
Although its etymology suggests beauty, the text uses the name purely as a proper noun for this terrain. The brevity of the reference highlights how ordinary places can become significant in biblical history, serving as stages for events that define the faith community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsits appears only once in Scripture, marking the Pass of Ziz where King Jehoshaphat faced a vast enemy army. The name means 'flower,' yet this valley was not a garden but a strategic corridor between the Dead Sea and the wilderness of Judah. It serves as a quiet reminder that God often chooses ordinary places to display His power.
When fear rises, we might look for dramatic signs, but faith trusts in God’s presence in the mundane. Jehoshaphat stood at this pass not because it was defensible, but because he believed God would fight for him. This story invites you to see your own daily routines and difficult paths as potential stages for divine intervention.
Even when circumstances seem overwhelming, remember that God is active in the 'ascent of Ziz'—the very places where we feel most vulnerable. Your current struggles are not outside His reach; they are often the precise location where He chooses to reveal His faithfulness. Rest in the knowledge that you are never alone in your battles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Ziz1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/צִּ֑יץ1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 20:16
Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they are coming up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
This verse identifies Ziz as the specific ascent where the enemy approaches, highlighting it as the focal point of Jehoshaphat's strategic and spiritual response.