Lexical Summary itstsabon: Sorrow, pain, toil, labor Original Word: עִצָּבוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sorrow, toil From atsab; worrisomeness, i.e. Labor or pain -- sorrow, toil. see HEBREW atsab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom atsab Definition a pain, toil NASB Translation pain (1), toil (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs עִצָּבוֺן noun [masculine] pain, toil; — ׳ע absolute Genesis 3:17 toil; construct עִצְּבוֺן יָדֵינוּ Genesis 5:29 (both of agriculture); suffix עִצְּבוֺנֵךְ Genesis 3:16 (of travail; all J). Topical Lexicon Term Overview The Hebrew noun עִצָּבוֹן highlights the inward and outward misery that follows human rebellion against God. It speaks of labor burdened by anguish, of sorrow that clings to body and soul, and of the painful cost of life east of Eden. Biblical Occurrences and Context 1. Genesis 3:16—To the woman the Lord says, “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children.” Here the word is joined to the joy of motherhood, revealing that even life-giving moments bear the scar of the Fall. Historical and Cultural Background In the Ancient Near Eastern world, childbirth and agriculture stood at the heart of daily existence. By attaching sorrow to both, Scripture identifies universal aspects of human life where the Fall is most keenly felt: the cradle and the field. Unlike pagan myths that view pain as random or the whim of capricious deities, Genesis roots sorrow in a moral universe—painful consequence tethered to transgression. This framing both dignifies labor and exposes its futility apart from divine grace. Theological Significance 1. Consequence of Sin: עִצָּבוֹן is not intrinsic to God’s good creation; it enters history only after disobedience. Christological and Redemptive Foreshadowing Noah’s naming anticipates the ultimate Man of Rest, Jesus Christ, who bears “our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). Christ enters a world of עִצָּבוֹן, embracing its agony in Gethsemane and on Golgotha. By resurrection He inaugurates the new creation where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4), reversing the ancient decree for all who trust Him. Pastoral and Practical Implications • Childbirth classes and farming manuals cannot erase the deeper sorrow only grace can heal. The gospel addresses both physical and existential pain. Worship and Liturgy Psalms of lament give voice to עִצָּבוֹן in every age: “My sorrow is continually before me” (Psalm 38:17). Yet lament is pregnant with praise, anticipating the day when “those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy” (Psalm 126:5). Corporate worship thus holds space for both suffering and celebration, mirroring the biblical tension. Related Passages and Themes • Physical pain: Job 3:1-26. Admitting the reality of עִצָּבוֹן keeps the church honest about the depth of the Fall yet confident in the breadth of redemption. Forms and Transliterations בְּעִצָּבוֹן֙ בעצבון וּמֵעִצְּב֣וֹן ומעצבון עִצְּבוֹנֵ֣ךְ עצבונך ‘iṣ·ṣə·ḇō·w·nêḵ ‘iṣṣəḇōwnêḵ bə‘iṣṣāḇōwn bə·‘iṣ·ṣā·ḇō·wn beitztzaVon itztzevoNech ū·mê·‘iṣ·ṣə·ḇō·wn ūmê‘iṣṣəḇōwn umeitztzeVonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 3:16 HEB: הַרְבָּ֤ה אַרְבֶּה֙ עִצְּבוֹנֵ֣ךְ וְהֵֽרֹנֵ֔ךְ בְּעֶ֖צֶב NAS: multiply Your pain in childbirth, KJV: multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; INT: will greatly multiply your pain childbirth pain Genesis 3:17 Genesis 5:29 3 Occurrences |
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