Lexical Summary tsaad: marched, gone, march Original Word: צָעַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bring, go, march through, run over A primitive root; to pace, i.e. Step regularly; (upward) to mount; (along) to march; (down and causatively) to hurl -- bring, go, march (through), run over. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to step, march NASB Translation gone (1), march (1), marched (3), run (1), takes (1), walk (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צָעַד] verb step, march (Late Hebrew id. (rare); Arabic  ascend); — Qal Perfect3feminine singular צָֽעֲדָה Genesis 49:22: (but on text see below); 3plural צָֽעֲדוּ 2 Samuel 6:13; Imperfect3masculine singular יִצְעָ֑ד Proverbs 7:8, etc.; Infinitive construct suffix בְּצַעַדְךָ Judges 5:4 בְּצַעְדְּךָ Psalm 68:8 step, march, of ׳י Judges 5:4; Psalm 68:8 (with ב location), Habakkuk 3:12 (with accusativeאֶרֶץ); read probably also צֹעֵד Hab 63:1(for ᵑ0 צֹעֶה, see צעה); of men, with accusative of congnate meaning with verb צְעָדִים 2 Samuel 6:13 they had gone six steps; with accusative דֶּרֶךְ step a certain way Proverbs 7:8; of idols, לֹא יִצְעָ֑דוּ Jeremiah 10:5. — בָּנוֺת צָֽעֲדָה עֲלישֿׁוּר Genesis 49:22 is dubious: usually (its) daughters (twigs of bough) have climbed over the wall (on singular verb see Ges§ 145k; others think הָ֯, old feminine plural ending, e.g. NöZMG xxxiii (1884), 411 JPPetersHebraica iii (1887), 111; v (1888), 199; conjectured emendation of text see in BallHpt Holz). Hiph`il Imperfect3feminine singular suffix וְתַצְעִדֵהוּ Job 18:14 and it (an unseen Power Di; disease Du, reading ׳וְיַצ) makes him march, with ל person Topical Lexicon Overview of UsageThe verb צָעַד paints a vivid picture of movement—whether the deliberate stride of men, the triumphant procession of the covenant-keeping LORD, or the creeping approach of temptation. In its eight Old Testament appearances the word always carries the idea of measured, purposeful progress. Sometimes the subject is divine, sometimes human, and once even botanical, yet the thematic thread is the same: every “step” is under God’s sovereign gaze. Divine Procession and Victory • Judges 5:4, Psalm 68:7, and Habakkuk 3:12 employ צָעַד to describe the LORD Himself on the move: “O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled” (Judges 5:4). “You marched across the earth with indignation; You threshed the nations in wrath” (Habakkuk 3:12). These scenes recall the wilderness journey and anticipate final judgment. The verb underscores that God does not drift through history; He strides with intent, shaking earth and nations alike. For preaching and worship, these texts reassure the church that the LORD is never static. He advances His redemptive plan, and nothing can impede His step. Worship, Reverence, and Ritual 2 Samuel 6:13 records the transport of the ark: “When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.” David counts the literal steps so that every movement of the symbol of God’s presence is bathed in sacrifice. The detail encourages reverence in ministry: holy things are not handled casually; every advance is measured and sanctified. Human Conduct: Righteous and Foolish Steps Proverbs 7:8 warns of a youth who “crossed the street near her corner and strolled down the road to her house.” The verb highlights his intentional but careless pacing toward sin. Believers are reminded that moral failure seldom happens in a leap; it unfolds in steps. By contrast, Genesis 49:22 celebrates fruitful “branches” that “climb over a wall.” The same verb that depicts reckless wandering in Proverbs becomes a picture of vigorous, outward-reaching life in Joseph. Scriptural consistency shows that every step, physical or metaphorical, bears consequences. Helpless Idols versus the Living God Jeremiah 10:5 contrasts mute idols that “cannot walk” with the LORD who strided through history in earlier passages. The polemic is sharp: man-made gods must be carried; the true God carries His people. Ministry application flows naturally—trust in anything immobile and powerless is folly when the living God still moves among His own. Judgment upon the Wicked Job 18:14 describes the wicked man “marched off to the king of terrors.” Here צָעַד signals grim inevitability. The same God who leads His people in triumph leads His enemies to doom. The verb’s range thus spans both salvation and judgment, reminding readers that no one walks outside divine jurisdiction. Theological Threads 1. Sovereignty: Every march of God or man is encompassed by Providence. Ministry Significance • Personal discipleship: Encourage believers to examine the “steps” they take daily. In every occurrence of צָעַד the inspired text presents a decisive motion—either toward blessing or judgment. The wise reader aligns each step with the One whose march will one day shake both earth and heaven. Forms and Transliterations בְּצַעְדְּךָ֖ בְּצַעְדְּךָ֙ בצעדך וְ֝תַצְעִדֵ֗הוּ ותצעדהו יִצְעָ֑דוּ יִצְעָֽד׃ יצעד׃ יצעדו צָעֲד֛וּ צָעֲדָ֖ה צעדה צעדו תִּצְעַד־ תצעד־ bə·ṣa‘·də·ḵā bəṣa‘dəḵā betzadeCha ṣā‘ăḏāh ṣā‘ăḏū ṣā·‘ă·ḏāh ṣā·‘ă·ḏū tiṣ‘aḏ- tiṣ·‘aḏ- titzad tzaaDah tzaaDu vetatziDehu wə·ṯaṣ·‘i·ḏê·hū wəṯaṣ‘iḏêhū yiṣ‘āḏ yiṣ‘āḏū yiṣ·‘ā·ḏū yiṣ·‘āḏ yitzAd yitzAduLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 49:22 HEB: עָ֑יִן בָּנ֕וֹת צָעֲדָ֖ה עֲלֵי־ שֽׁוּר׃ NAS: [Its] branches run over KJV: [whose] branches run over the wall: INT: A spring branches run over A wall Judges 5:4 2 Samuel 6:13 Job 18:14 Psalm 68:7 Proverbs 7:8 Jeremiah 10:5 Habakkuk 3:12 8 Occurrences |
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