6880. tsirah

Lexicon

tsirah: Hornet

Original Word: צִרְעָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: tsir`ah
Pronunciation: tseer-ah'
Phonetic Spelling: (tsir-aw')
Definition: Hornet
Meaning: a wasp

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

hornet

From tsara'; a wasp (as stinging) -- hornet.

see HEBREW tsara'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as tsaraath
Definition
hornets
NASB Translation
hornet (2), hornets (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

צִרְעָה noun feminine collective hornets (? as wounding, prostrating; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew); — allies of Israel; — ׳הַצּ Exodus 23:28; Joshua 24:12 (both E), Deuteronomy 7:20.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root צָרַע (tsara'), which means "to sting" or "to wound."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Greek equivalents in the Strong's Concordance that correspond to the Hebrew צִרְעָה. However, the concept of divine intervention and judgment can be found in various Greek terms related to God's actions and authority.

Usage: The term צִרְעָה appears in the context of God's promise to drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land before the Israelites, using the wasp as a metaphor for divine agents of fear and confusion.

Context: The Hebrew word צִרְעָה (Tzir'ah) is translated as "wasp" and is used in the Old Testament to describe a means by which God would assist the Israelites in conquering the land of Canaan. The term is found in three key passages:

- Exodus 23:28 (BSB): "I will send the hornet before you, and it will drive the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites away from you."
- Deuteronomy 7:20 (BSB): "Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them until even the survivors hiding from you have perished."
- Joshua 24:12 (BSB): "I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove out the two Amorite kings before you, but it was not by your sword or bow."

In these passages, the "hornet" or "wasp" is not necessarily a literal insect but rather a symbol of the fear and panic that God would instill in Israel's enemies, causing them to flee. This divine intervention underscores the belief that the conquest of Canaan was not solely due to Israel's military prowess but was facilitated by God's direct action.

The use of the wasp as a metaphor highlights the theme of divine retribution and the fulfillment of God's promises to the Israelites. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to use natural elements or phenomena to achieve His purposes.

Forms and Transliterations

הַצִּרְעָ֔ה הַצִּרְעָ֖ה הצרעה haṣ·ṣir·‘āh haṣṣir‘āh hatztzirAh

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 23:28
HEB: וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֥י אֶת־ הַצִּרְעָ֖ה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וְגֵרְשָׁ֗ה
NAS: I will send hornets ahead
KJV: And I will send hornets before
INT: will send hornets ahead will drive

Deuteronomy 7:20
HEB: וְגַם֙ אֶת־ הַצִּרְעָ֔ה יְשַׁלַּ֛ח יְהוָ֥ה
NAS: will send the hornet against them, until
KJV: will send the hornet among them, until they that are left,
INT: Moreover the hornet will send the LORD

Joshua 24:12
HEB: לִפְנֵיכֶם֙ אֶת־ הַצִּרְעָ֔ה וַתְּגָ֤רֶשׁ אוֹתָם֙
NAS: Then I sent the hornet before
KJV: And I sent the hornet before
INT: sent before the hornet drove before

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6880
3 Occurrences

haṣ·ṣir·‘āh — 3 Occ.