תּוֹצָאָה (to.tsa.ah)
to.tsa.ah
outgoing
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun totsaah literally means an outgoing or exit, but in Scripture it almost always appears in the plural to describe boundaries. It refers to the points where territory ends and another begins, marking the "goings out" of a land. This usage is most prominent in the detailed descriptions of Israel’s borders in Numbers and Joshua, where it defines the precise limits of the inheritance given to each tribe.
Beyond geography, the word carries a figurative weight related to origins and deliverance. In Proverbs 4:23, it describes the "fountain" or source from which life flows, suggesting that one’s inner direction determines their path. Similarly, Psalm 68:20 uses it to speak of salvation as an escape from death, highlighting a movement from confinement into freedom.
Its root verb yatsa means to go out, so totsaah captures the result of that action. Whether marking the edge of a map or the source of spiritual life, the word consistently points to a point of departure. It reminds readers that every boundary defines not just where one stops, but where something new begins.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word totsaah points to the edge where one territory ends and another begins. In the Old Testament, it marks the borders given to Israel’s tribes, defining their specific inheritance. These boundaries were not just lines on a map; they established identity, security, and responsibility for each family group within God’s land.
Beyond geography, this concept applies to our inner lives. Proverbs 4:23 uses a related idea to describe the heart as the source from which life flows. Just as borders define physical space, your inner direction shapes your path. Guarding what comes out of you matters because it determines where you go.
When you feel confined or uncertain, remember that boundaries can also signal new beginnings. The same word used for land limits appears in Psalms to describe salvation as an escape from death. This movement from confinement into freedom reminds us that every ending is also a start. Trust that God guides your steps toward His purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- extremities/ its14×
- [the] extremities of5×
- extremities/ their1×
- [the] sources of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תֹצְאֹתָ֖י/ו5×
- תוֹצְאֹתָ֖י/ו3×
- תֹּצְא֥וֹת3×
- תֹּֽצְאֹתָ֔י/ו2×
- תּוֹצְאוֹתָֽ/ם\׃1×
- תּוֹצְאֹ֥ת1×
- תּוֹצְא֥וֹת1×
- תּֽוֹצְאֹתָ֔י/ו1×
- תֹּצְא֣וֹת1×
- תֹּֽצְאֹתָ֑י/ו1×
- תֹצְאֹתָ֛י/ו1×
- תֹֽצְאֹתָ֗י/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
This verse shifts the meaning from physical borders to the heart as the source of life, showing how inner direction shapes outward conduct.
-
Numbers 34:12
The border shall go down to the Jordan, and end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders around it.’”
Here the term marks the final boundary of the Jordan inheritance at the Salt Sea, emphasizing the completeness of God’s provision for Reuben and Gad.
-
Joshua 15:4
and it passed along to Azmon, went out at the brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your south border.
This occurrence defines Judah’s southern limit at the brook of Egypt, illustrating how totsaah establishes clear limits for tribal possession.
-
Joshua 19:29
The border turned to Ramah, to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah. It ended at the sea by the region of Achzib;
The border ending at the sea by Achzib shows how this word delineates the northern extent of Asher’s inheritance along the coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does totsaah mean in the Bible?
Why is totsaah used for both borders and the heart?
Where does totsaah appear in the Old Testament?
Every Occurrence (21 verses across 4 books)
Numbers 5 verses
Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of…
Numbers 34:5The border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the sea.
Numbers 34:8From Mount Hor you shall mark out to the entrance of Hamath; and the border shall pass by Zedad.
Numbers 34:9Then the border shall go to Ziphron, and it shall end at Hazar Enan. This shall be your north border.
Numbers 34:12The border shall go down to the Jordan, and end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders…