צֹנֶה (tso.neh)
tso.neh
sheep
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun tso.neh refers to a flock or group of sheep. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Numbers 31:38, where it is listed among the livestock captured during the military campaign against Midian. The word describes the collective unit of animals rather than an individual sheep.
This term highlights the importance of livestock as a measure of wealth and spoil in the ancient Near East. In this specific context, the flock represents property that was divided between the soldiers and the community. The singular usage underscores how rare it is for this particular word to appear in Scripture compared to more common terms for sheep.
Translators typically render tso.neh as "flock" or "sheep" depending on the surrounding context. Its limited occurrence means it does not carry extensive theological development across the canon, but it provides a concrete example of how ancient Israelites accounted for their resources and the results of their campaigns.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tso.neh appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Numbers 31:38. It refers to a flock or group of sheep captured during the campaign against Midian. This rare term highlights how livestock served as a vital measure of wealth and resource in the ancient Near East.
While this specific word does not carry extensive theological development across Scripture, it reminds us that God cares about the tangible aspects of life. The division of these flocks between soldiers and the community shows a structured approach to stewardship and provision. It grounds our faith in the reality of daily needs and responsibilities.
Understanding such details helps us appreciate the historical context of the Bible. We see a people learning to manage their resources under God's guidance. This offers a quiet encouragement that our own lives, with all their practical concerns, are held within His sovereign plan.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for/ sheep/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/צֹנַאֲ/כֶ֑ם1×