תְּבוּאָה (te.vu.ah)
te.vu.ah
produce
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 38 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tevuah refers to produce, yield, or income, describing the results that come from labor or growth. In the Old Testament, it most often denotes the physical harvest of the earth, such as grain, wine, or crops. This concrete sense appears in laws regarding tithes and offerings, where Israelites are instructed to bring "all the increase" of their land to support the Levites and priests (Numbers 18:30; Deuteronomy 14:22). It captures the tangible output of the soil, a fundamental concept in an agrarian society.
Beyond agriculture, the word expands into metaphorical territory to describe abstract gains. Wisdom is described as having a "gain" or "produce" that surpasses silver and gold (Proverbs 3:14; 8:19), while the results of one’s speech are called the "fruit of his lips" (Proverbs 18:20). This usage links physical harvest with moral or intellectual outcomes, suggesting that just as land yields crops, a person’s character and words yield visible results. The term thus bridges the gap between material sustenance and spiritual or ethical profit.
Its root relates to coming or entering, implying something that arrives as a result of a process. Translators vary their rendering based on context, choosing "fruit," "increase," "gain," or "revenue" to match the specific nuance. Whether referring to literal crops or the benefits of righteousness, tevuah consistently points to the inevitable output of what has been sown or cultivated.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tevuah describes the tangible results of growth, whether from a field or from a life well-lived. In ancient Israel, it referred to the physical harvest that sustained families and supported the community through tithes. This concrete reality reminds us that our efforts are not in vain; they yield real outcomes that can nourish others.
Beyond agriculture, Scripture uses this term to describe the 'produce' of wisdom and speech. Just as land yields crops, our character and words generate visible results. Proverbs notes that a person is satisfied with the good result of their talk, highlighting how our daily interactions bear fruit. This connection invites us to consider what we are cultivating in our hearts.
Whether facing seasons of plenty or times when the harvest seems delayed, this word points to God's provision. He commands blessings on the land so that His people may eat and be satisfied. We can trust that the seeds of faithfulness we sow will eventually bring forth a yield that honors Him and supports those in need around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 38 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- produce/ its6×
- produce/ your4×
- [the] produce of4×
- produce<s>3×
- the/ produce2×
- [the] produce<s> of2×
- some of/ [the] produce of1×
- revenue/ her1×
- produce/ our1×
- produce/ my1×
- produce/ his1×
- produce of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּבוּאָתָֽ/הּ\׃4×
- תְּבוּאַ֣ת4×
- תְּבוּאֹ֣ת2×
- תְּבוּאָת֑/וֹ2×
- תְּבוּאַ֖ת2×
- תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת2×
- תְּבוּאֹ֔ת1×
- תְּבוּאָתָ֖/הּ1×
- תְּבוּאָתֶֽ/ךָ\׃1×
- תְּבוּאָתֵֽ/נוּ\׃1×
- תְּבוּאָתְ/ךָ֛1×
- תְּבוּאָֽתְ/ךָ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 25:21
then I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bear fruit for the three years.
Here the word describes the supernatural increase God provides during a sabbatical year, showing that He sustains His people even when they do not sow.
-
Numbers 18:30
“Therefore you shall tell them, ‘When you heave its best from it, then it shall be credited to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the increase of the wine press.
The term is used metaphorically to describe tithes as the 'increase of the threshing floor,' establishing a standard for supporting Levitical ministry.
-
Genesis 47:24
It will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of the field, for your food, for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.”
This occurrence shows tevuah in a legal context regarding land management, where a fifth of the harvest is designated for Pharaoh while the rest serves as seed and food.