תְּבוּסָה (te.vu.sah)
te.vu.sah
ruin
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tevuṣah describes a state of ruin brought about by being trampled or trodden down. Its core meaning is not merely abstract destruction, but the physical act of crushing that results in downfall. This imagery suggests a forceful subjugation where one party is pressed into the ground by another.
In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears only once, in 2 Chronicles 22:7. The text uses it to describe the fate of King Jehoram, whose house was destroyed because he followed the wicked ways of Ahab’s family. Here, tevuṣah captures the sudden and humiliating collapse of a dynasty under divine judgment.
The term derives from a root meaning “to tread” or “step on,” linking physical pressure to political or spiritual ruin. Translators often render it as “destruction” or “downfall,” but the underlying image remains one of being crushed underfoot, emphasizing both the violence and the finality of the defeat.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tevuṣah paints a vivid picture of ruin as something crushed underfoot. It is not just abstract loss, but the physical reality of being trampled down by a heavier force. In 2 Chronicles 22:7, this term describes the sudden collapse of King Ahaziah’s house. His alliance with wicked leaders led to his downfall, showing how spiritual compromise can result in total destruction.
For your faith, this word serves as a sobering reminder that our choices have real consequences. When we align ourselves with what is wrong, we invite forces that crush our stability. Yet, it also highlights the seriousness of divine judgment. God does not overlook rebellion, and He holds leaders accountable for their paths.
Understanding this term helps us see the weight of our decisions. It invites us to examine where we might be leaning on unstable alliances or compromising our values. The hope lies in recognizing that true security comes only from walking in truth and righteousness, avoiding the path that leads to being trampled by life’s heavier burdens.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] downfall of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּבוּסַ֣ת1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 22:7
Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went to Joram; for when he had come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off Ahab’s house.
This verse uses tevuṣah to describe Ahaziah's downfall, linking his political ruin directly to his spiritual alliance with Ahab’s wicked house.