Lexical Summary tsavvar: neck, necks, headlong Original Word: צַוָּאר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance neck Or tsavvar (Nehemiah 3:5) {tsav-vawr'}; or tsavvaron (Song of Solomon 4:9) {tsav-vaw-rone'}; or (feminine) tsavva.rah (Micah 2:3) {tsav-vaw-raw'}; intensively from tsuwr in the sense of binding; the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound) -- neck. see HEBREW tsuwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition neck, back of neck NASB Translation headlong (1), neck (30), necks (8), pride (1), support* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צַוָּאר noun masculinePsalm 75:6 neck, back of neck; — absolute ׳צ Isaiah 8:8 +, construct צַוַּאר Jeremiah 28:10 3t. 28; suffix צַוָּארִי Lamentations 1:14, צַוָּרָם Nehemiah 3:5, etc.; plural construct צַוְּארֵי Judges 8:21 +; suffix צַוָּארָיו Genesis 27:16 +, צַוְּארֵיכֶם Jeremiah 27:12, צַוְּארֹתַיכֶם Micah 2:3; — l. neck, especially back of neck, of man, wearing chain as ornament Genesis 41:42 (E), so of woman Songs 1:10, compare Judges 5:30 (read perhaps צַוָּארַי for רֵ֑י), elsewhere in Genesis usually plural intensive, of individual, ׳נָפַל עַלצֿ Judg 45:14 (E), Judg 46:29; Judg 33:4 (Qr; Kt singular), so ׳בָּכָה עַלצֿ Judg 45:14; Judg 46:29 (all J); חֶלְקַת צַוַּארָיו Judg 27:16 smooth part of neck (J); neck of beautiful woman Songs 4:4; Songs 7:5; neck as pressed by foot of conqueror Joshua 10:24 (twice in verse) (JE); place of yoke Genesis 27:40 (singular; J), Deuteronomy 28:48; Isaiah 10:27; Jeremiah 27:2,8,11,12; Jeremiah 28:10,11,12,14; Jeremiah 30:8; of transgressions as yoke Lamentations 1:14; place of bonds Isaiah 52:2; of bearing load, Nehemiah 3:5 (figurative), hence calamity as burden Micah 2:3; neck as smitten with sword Ezekiel 21:34; ׳עַדצֿ as measurement of height (depth; in figure) Isaiah 8:8; Isaiah 30:8; Habakkuk 3:13; עָתָק ׳בְּצ figurative Psalm 75:6 speak not with arrogant neck (si Vera l.; but read perhaps בַּצּוּר against the Rock, ᵐ5. κατὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, Bae Hup-Now Che Kau); of wicked, rushing against God Job 15:26. — עַלצַֿוָּארֵנוּ נִרְדָּ֔פְנוּ Lamentations 5:5 is dubious; Matthes Löhr Bae ׳עֹל עַלוֿגו; Bu ׳עֹל צַוּ, and הֲדָפָנוּ or יֶהְדְּפֵנוּ for ׳נִר. 2 neck of animals, camels (wearing ornaments) Judges 8:21,26; heifer Hosea 10:11 (i. e. place of yoke, in figure of Ephraim); horse Job 39:19, crocodile Job 41:14. [צַוָּרוֺן] noun [masculine] plural necklace; — suffix אַחַד עֲנָק מַצַּוָּרֹנָ֑יִִךְ Songs 4:9. צוֺר Tyre see צֹר. צַוְּרֹנִים צַוָּר see צַוָּאר. Topical Lexicon Literal Anatomyצַוָּאר designates the physical neck, the narrow bridge between head and torso. In narrative passages the word is used matter-of-factly to describe where garments, animal harnesses, or human embrace make contact (Genesis 27:16; Job 41:22). The term therefore belongs to everyday Hebrew speech, furnishing the Bible’s writers with a ready image for vulnerability, ornamentation, submission, and affection. Symbol of Affection and Reconciliation Repeatedly the neck becomes the place where estranged family members weep out their reconciliation. Esau “threw his arms around his neck” (Genesis 33:4), Joseph “wept profusely on his father’s neck” (Genesis 46:29), and the brothers in Egypt “embraced… and wept on each other’s necks” (Genesis 45:14-15). The embrace of the neck thus connotes wholehearted restoration—an action so intimate that it silences all suspicion of lingering hostility. Adornments of Honor and Beauty The neck is also a canvas for splendor. The brides of Song of Solomon are praised: “your neck with strings of jewels” (Song of Solomon 1:10); “your neck is like the tower of David” (4:4); “your neck is like an ivory tower” (7:4). Wisdom is personified as an ornament that should be “bound around your neck” (Proverbs 3:3; see also 1:9; 3:22; 6:21; 7:3). The placement of jewels, signet cords, or garlands on the neck frames this body part as a showcase of dignity and moral beauty. Its elevation—literally above the body—mirrors the exalted place the heart should give to covenant love and truth. Instrument of Bondage and Oppression Conversely, the neck is where tyrants clamp their yokes (Deuteronomy 28:48; Jeremiah 27:2). Isaiah prophesies that Assyria’s yoke “will be broken from your neck” (Isaiah 10:27), while Jeremiah announces the same liberation for exiles (Jeremiah 30:8). The metaphor intensifies in Lamentations 1:14: “My transgressions… have come upon my neck.” Sin itself holds Judah in a crushing choke-hold. The neck, created for adornment, becomes the very seat of bondage when God’s people rebel. Object Lesson of Subjugation in Warfare Ancient commanders demonstrated victory by trampling the necks of captured kings: “Put your feet on the necks of these kings” (Joshua 10:24). This ritual, echoed in Near-Eastern bas-reliefs, embodied total dominance and foreshadowed the Messiah’s conquest over hostile powers (Psalm 110:1). Figure of Stubborn Rebellion Psalm 75:5 warns, “Do not speak with an outstretched neck,” portraying arrogance as a stiff-neck that refuses to bow. The same imagery lies behind references to obstinate Israel, though a cognate word (עֹרֶף) is more common. The lesson: resistance to God manifests anatomically as an unyielding neck, whereas humility willingly bows. Call to Bind Wisdom and Covenant Loyalty Proverbs urges the righteous to tie teaching, love, and faithfulness to the neck. The vivid instruction moves wisdom from mere mental assent to visible lifestyle. The son’s neck, encircled by fatherly instruction, becomes the public signal that he lives under divine tutelage. Prophetic Promise of Deliverance Several prophets declare that the Lord Himself will break oppressive yokes—from Egypt (Isaiah 10:27), Babylon (Jeremiah 28:14), and finally from sin (Jeremiah 30:8). The neck that once felt iron will be relieved by divine intervention, a pledge fulfilled when Christ invites, “Take My yoke upon you… For My yoke is easy” (Matthew 11:29). The contrast highlights the gracious exchange: Christ shoulders the crushing weight so that His people wear only the gentle yoke of discipleship. Christological and Ministry Reflections 1. Vulnerability and Atonement: The exposed neck of sacrificial animals at the altar presages the voluntary submission of the Lamb of God. When believers meditate on the images of yokes and shackles, they glimpse the Servant who bowed His neck beneath the cross-beam. 2. Adornment and Discipleship: Just as wisdom and kindness become a necklace, so the fruit of the Spirit should be the unmistakable adornment of every follower. Ministry that stresses mere intellectual assent misses the biblical emphasis on visible, relational grace. 3. Reconciliation: Pastoral care that guides estranged parties toward the “neck embrace” of Genesis 33 fosters the gospel witness of restored fellowship in Christ. 4. Warning against Pride: Leaders must guard against a “stiff neck.” True authority is exercised by those who themselves bow before the Lord. Practical Application for Today • Teach children to “bind” Scripture on the neck by coupling memory work with acts of kindness. • Use the yoke imagery in counseling to illustrate how bitterness or addiction grips the neck—and how Christ liberates. • Encourage congregational confession that bows the neck in humility, countering the cultural exaltation of the proud posture. • Celebrate reconciliations publicly, allowing the biblical emblem of neck-embrace to shape congregational culture. The varied uses of צַוָּאר paint a complete theology: the neck may be embraced, adorned, bowed, yoked, or trampled. In redemption history, God moves it from bondage to beauty, from pride to praise—anatomy turned doxology. Forms and Transliterations בְּֽ֭צַוָּארוֹ בְּצַוְּארֵ֥י בְּצַוָּ֑אר בְצַוָּ֣אר בצואר בצוארו בצוארי לְצַוְּארֵ֥י לצוארי מִצַּוְּרֹנָֽיִךְ׃ מצורניך׃ צַוְּארֵ֖י צַוְּארֵ֥י צַוְּארֵי֙ צַוְּארֵיהֶֽם׃ צַוְּארֵיכֶ֜ם צַוְּארֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם צַוַּ֖אר צַוַּ֛אר צַוַּ֣אר ׀ צַוָּ֖אר צַוָּ֣אר צַוָּאר֔וֹ צַוָּאר֛וֹ צַוָּאר֣וֹ צַוָּארִ֖י צַוָּארֵ֔ךְ צַוָּארֵ֖ךְ צַוָּארֵ֙נוּ֙ צַוָּארֶ֑ךָ צַוָּארֶ֔ךָ צַוָּארֶֽךָ׃ צַוָּארָ֔יו צַוָּארָ֖ו צַוָּארָ֖יו צַוָּארָֽיו׃ צַוָּארֽוֹ׃ צַוָּרָ֔ם צואר צוארו צוארו׃ צוארי צואריהם׃ צואריו צואריו׃ צואריכם צוארך צוארך׃ צוארנו צוארתיכם צורם bə·ṣaw·wā·rōw bə·ṣaw·wār ḇə·ṣaw·wār bə·ṣaw·wə·rê bəṣawwār ḇəṣawwār bəṣawwārōw bəṣawwərê betzavVar betzavvaro betzavveRei lə·ṣaw·wə·rê ləṣawwərê letzavveRei miṣ·ṣaw·wə·rō·nā·yiḵ miṣṣawwərōnāyiḵ mitztzavveroNayich ṣaw·wā·rām ṣaw·wā·rāw ṣaw·wā·re·ḵā ṣaw·wā·rê·nū ṣaw·wā·rêḵ ṣaw·wā·rî ṣaw·wā·rōw ṣaw·war ṣaw·wār ṣaw·wə·rê ṣaw·wə·rê·hem ṣaw·wə·rê·ḵem ṣaw·wə·rō·ṯê·ḵem ṣawwar ṣawwār ṣawwārām ṣawwārāw ṣawwārêḵ ṣawwāreḵā ṣawwārênū ṣawwārî ṣawwārōw ṣawwərê ṣawwərêhem ṣawwərêḵem ṣawwərōṯêḵem tzavVar tzavvaRam tzavvaRav tzavvaRech tzavvaRecha tzavvaRenu tzavvaRi tzavvaRo tzavveRei tzavvereiChem tzavvereiHem tzavveroteiChem vetzavVarLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 27:16 HEB: וְעַ֖ל חֶלְקַ֥ת צַוָּארָֽיו׃ NAS: and on the smooth part of his neck. KJV: and upon the smooth of his neck: INT: and on the smooth of his neck Genesis 27:40 Genesis 33:4 Genesis 41:42 Genesis 45:14 Genesis 45:14 Genesis 46:29 Genesis 46:29 Deuteronomy 28:48 Joshua 10:24 Joshua 10:24 Judges 5:30 Judges 8:21 Judges 8:26 Nehemiah 3:5 Job 15:26 Job 39:19 Job 41:22 Psalm 75:5 Songs 1:10 Songs 4:4 Songs 4:9 Songs 7:4 Isaiah 8:8 Isaiah 10:27 41 Occurrences |
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