Lexical Summary tsabar: To heap up, gather, pile up Original Word: צָבַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gather together, heap up, lay up A primitive root; to aggregate -- gather (together), heap (up), lay up. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to heap up NASB Translation amasses (1), heap (1), piled (2), piles (1), store (1), stored (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צָבַר] verb heap up (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic צְבַר Syriac  is prate, chatter, rave; Arabic  is collect, bind together; compare further Dozy); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יִצְבֹּר Genesis 41:35; Psalm 39:7; 3feminine singular וַתִּצְבָּרֿ Zechariah 9:3, etc.; — heap up, in great quantity: with accusative corn Genesis 41:35,49 (E), dead frogs Exodus 8:10 (J), dust Habakkuk 1:10, silver like dust Zechariah 9:3; Job 27:16, compare (object omitted) Psalm 39:7. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery צָבַר conveys the act of piling, stacking, or accumulating. Whether the object is grain, frogs, silver, or earthworks, the shared picture is of deliberate gathering until a conspicuous mound is formed. The term therefore speaks to both foresighted provision and self-serving hoarding, depending on context. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Genesis 41:35, 49 – Joseph “stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea” so that Egypt might survive famine. Divine Provision versus Human Greed Genesis presents accumulation as wise stewardship when directed by God. Joseph’s storing preserved many lives and advanced the redemptive plan that would bring Israel to Egypt. In stark contrast, Job, Psalms, and Zechariah portray heaping riches as an empty pursuit that crumbles under divine scrutiny. The same verb thus spotlights intent: accumulation that serves God’s purposes is blessed; accumulation that exalts self is doomed. Judgment Motifs Exodus 8:14 and Zechariah 9:3 both link heaps with stench or impending ruin. The frogs rot, Tyre’s treasures cannot shield her. Habakkuk 1:10 shows invaders piling up earthworks to execute judgment on nations God has ordained to chastise. Ironically, those very conquerors will later fall to the justice they once administered (Habakkuk 2:8). Wisdom Literature Emphasis Job 27:16–17 anticipates Proverbs and Ecclesiastes by reminding readers that ill-gotten gain ultimately enriches the righteous: “...the innocent will divide the silver.” Psalm 39:6 presses the lesson further, exposing the brevity of life and the folly of restless accumulation. Historical Insights Heaping grain in Egypt reflects well-attested Near-Eastern granary systems. The frog heaps recall Egyptian religious reverence for Heqet and underscore the impotence of idol-gods before Yahweh. Tyre’s massive bullion reserves were famed in the ancient world; Zechariah’s oracle came true when Alexander the Great conquered the city despite its wealth. Ministry Applications • Encourage believers to plan prudently, yet hold resources loosely, recognizing that ownership is stewardship under God. Foreshadowing and New Testament Resonance Joseph’s grain piles prefigure the spiritual abundance found in Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The futility of hoarded wealth echoes in James 5:3: “You have hoarded treasure in the last days.” Thus, צָבַר invites readers to transfer confidence from earthly heaps to heavenly stores “where neither moth nor rust destroy” (Matthew 6:20). Summary צָבַר illustrates a moral polarity: the same act of piling may either save nations or expose vanity. Scripture’s consistent witness urges God-centered stewardship, condemns acquisitive pride, and assures that the Judge of all the earth weighs every heap. Forms and Transliterations וְיִצְבְּרוּ־ וַיִּצְבְּר֥וּ וַיִּצְבֹּ֥ר וַיִּצְבֹּ֨ר וַתִּצְבָּר־ ויצבר ויצברו ויצברו־ ותצבר־ יִ֝צְבֹּ֗ר יִצְבֹּ֣ר יצבר vaiyitzbeRu vaiyitzBor vattitzbor veyitzberu wat·tiṣ·bār- wattiṣbār- way·yiṣ·bə·rū way·yiṣ·bōr wayyiṣbərū wayyiṣbōr wə·yiṣ·bə·rū- wəyiṣbərū- yiṣ·bōr yiṣbōr yitzBorLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:35 HEB: הַבָּאֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְיִצְבְּרוּ־ בָ֞ר תַּ֧חַת NAS: that are coming, and store up the grain KJV: that come, and lay up corn INT: are coming of these and store the grain under Genesis 41:49 Exodus 8:14 Job 27:16 Psalm 39:6 Habakkuk 1:10 Zechariah 9:3 7 Occurrences |
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