Lexical Summary tsephua or tsaphia: Viper Original Word: צְפוּעַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dung From the same as tsepha'; excrement (as protruded) -- dung. see HEBREW tsepha' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition dung (of cattle) NASB Translation dung (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צָפִיעַ] noun [masculine] dung of cattle; — plural construct צְפִיעֵי הַבָּקָר Ezekiel 4:15 Qr (opposed to נֶּלְלֵי הָאָדָם), so Co Toy and others, >Kt צפועי. III. צפע (√ of following; meaning unknown). Topical Lexicon Scriptural OccurrenceThe Hebrew word צְפוּעַ appears a single time in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 4:15. The Berean Standard Bible reads: “Then He said to me, ‘See, I will allow you cow dung instead of human excrement; you may bake your bread over it.’” Though translated “cow dung,” the term is specific enough to merit individual notice, standing as a vivid emblem in Ezekiel’s sign-act. Historical Background Ezekiel’s ministry unfolded during Judah’s exile in Babylon (beginning 597 BC). Prophets often expressed God’s messages through symbolic actions; Ezekiel 4 records four such acts portraying the coming siege of Jerusalem. Baking bread over dung was not merely shock theater: in the Ancient Near East, dried animal excrement served as common fuel where wood was scarce. The command therefore evoked the hardship of siege conditions, when conventional resources would fail. Cultural and Agricultural Context 1. Fuel Source. Nomadic and agrarian communities routinely used cattle dung, pressed into cakes and sun-dried, for cooking fires. It produced a slow, smokeless burn—preferable inside tents or small dwellings. 2. Ritual Cleanliness. While animal dung made everyday fuel, cooking over human excrement violated Israel’s purity laws (Deuteronomy 23:12-14). Ezekiel’s protest in Ezekiel 4:14 (“No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth!”) reflects lifelong priestly scruples. 3. Divine Accommodation. The shift from human excrement to cow dung honored Ezekiel’s concern while preserving the prophetic point: the people would eat defiled food “among the nations” (Ezekiel 4:13). God’s concession illustrates His sensitivity to individual conscience even while executing judgment. Prophetic Symbolism in Ezekiel • Siege Hardship. The sign-act dramatized scarcity so severe that only inferior fuel remained. Theological Themes 1. Holiness versus Defilement. Israel’s sin is portrayed as uncleanness; judgment exposes it, but God remains committed to purification (Ezekiel 36:25-27). Ministry Application • Faithful Witness. Modern believers may adopt culturally resonant symbols to convey biblical truth, provided personal holiness is not compromised. Summary צְפוּעַ serves as more than a lexical curiosity; in its lone appearance it anchors a prophetic panorama of judgment, holiness, and grace. The humble image of cow dung—fuel for siege-bread—burns into memory the cost of sin and the steadfast resolve of God to refine a people for His own possession. Forms and Transliterations צְפִיעֵ֣י צפיעי ṣə·p̄î·‘ê ṣəp̄î‘ê tzefiEiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 4:15 HEB: [צְפוּעֵי כ] (צְפִיעֵ֣י ק) הַבָּקָ֔ר NAS: you cow's dung in place KJV: thee cow's dung for man's INT: See will give dung cow's place 1 Occurrence |
    |