Lexical Summary
atsab: To hurt, pain, grieve, displease
Original Word:עָצָב
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:`atsab
Pronunciation:aw-tsab'
Phonetic Spelling:(aw-tsawb')
KJV: idol, image
NASB:idols, images
Word Origin:[fromH6087 (עָצַב - To grieve)]
1. an (idolatrous) image
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
idol, image
Fromatsab; an (idolatrous) image -- idol, image.
see HEBREWatsab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
atsabDefinitionan idol
NASB Translationidols (13), images (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] ; — always plural (Ges
§ 93ee):
Hosea 4:17;
Hosea 8:6 (),
Hosea 13:2 (), "" ),
Hosea 14:9;
Zechariah 13:2; 2Chronicles 24:18 (+ ); construct
Psalm 106:38;
Psalm 135:15 (); suffix
Isaiah 10:11 ("" ),
Jeremiah 50:2 ("" ),
Micah 1:7;
1 Samuel 31:9 =
1 Chronicles 10:9;
2 Samuel 5:21 (but read as ""
1 Chronicles 14:12, so We Dr and others),
Isaiah 46:1;
Psalm 106:36;
Psalm 115:4 ().
(√ of following; compare Arabic
lop trees with a
, a kind ofreaping-hook; Ethiopic
,
,reap,
,
,sickle; Late Hebrewaxe (smaller than LevyNHWB ii. 423).
Topical Lexicon
Essence of the Termעָצָב refers to a handcrafted image that is worshiped in place of the living God. Although fashioned with skill and often costly materials, every occurrence exposes its utter powerlessness and the spiritual sorrow it brings to those who trust in it.
Distribution in Scripture
Eighteen occurrences span historical narrative, poetry, and prophetic literature, forming a united witness against idolatry:
• Early monarchy conflicts (1 Samuel 31:9;2 Samuel 5:21;1 Chronicles 10:9).
• Post-Solomonic apostasy (2 Chronicles 24:18).
• National laments and praise theology (Psalm 106:36-38;Psalm 115:4;Psalm 135:15).
• Assyrian-Babylonian era warnings (Isaiah 10:11;Isaiah 46:1;Isaiah 48:5;Jeremiah 50:2;Micah 1:7).
• Northern Kingdom indictments and promised restoration (Hosea 4:17; 8:4; 13:2; 14:8).
• Eschatological cleansing (Zechariah 13:2).
Narrative Contexts: Military Triumph and Shame
• After Saul’s death the Philistines “sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the good news in the houses of their idols” (1 Samuel 31:9), flaunting victory as proof of their gods’ superiority.
• When David later routs them, “they left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away” (2 Samuel 5:21). Chronicles notes these trophies were burned (1 Chronicles 14:12), dramatizing the defeat of false gods before the LORD.
Covenantal Apostasy in Judah and Israel
• Joash’s generation “abandoned the house of the LORD… and served the Asherim and the idols” (2 Chronicles 24:18). Divine wrath followed, confirming that idolatry is covenant treachery.
• Hosea portrays Ephraim glued to idols (Hosea 4:17) yet ultimately confessing, “What have I to do with idols?” (Hosea 14:8), demonstrating both the depth of bondage and the power of grace.
Poetic Theology of Idols
Psalms distill the theology:
— “Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men” (Psalm 115:4).
— “Those who make them will be like them, as will all who trust in them” (Psalm 115:8).
Humanity becomes as spiritually inert as the objects it worships; worship shapes character.
Prophetic Exposure and Promise
Isaiah ridicules idols borne on beasts (Isaiah 46:1) and denies them foresight (Isaiah 48:5). Jeremiah foretells Babylon’s fall and the smashing of her idols (Jeremiah 50:2). Zechariah projects a coming day when “I will remove the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered” (Zechariah 13:2), anchoring eschatological hope in a purified worship.
Theological Significance
1. False Refuge: Idols cannot deliver (Isaiah 46:7).
2. Moral Corrosion: Idolatry births bloodshed—“They poured out innocent blood… the blood of their sons and daughters whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan” (Psalm 106:38).
3. Divine Jealousy: The LORD’s exclusive right to worship is non-negotiable; judgment falls where that right is denied.
4. Antithetic Revelation: By exposing idols, Scripture magnifies God’s uniqueness—He speaks, acts, and predicts, unlike עָצָב.
Ministerial Application
• Preaching: Call hearers from modern substitutes—materialism, self, political saviors—to the living God.
• Counseling: Idols of the heart (Ezekiel 14:3) generate sorrow; repentance restores joy.
• Missions: The gospel confronts every culture’s עָצָב, proclaiming Christ as the true image of God (Colossians 1:15).
Christological Fulfillment
Where idols are lifeless images, Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being” (Hebrews 1:3). He alone reveals God without deceit and, by His cross, liberates those enslaved to vain worship (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
Eschatological Hope
Revelation envisions a city devoid of idolatry where “nothing unclean, nor anyone who practices detestable things and lies, will ever enter it” (Revelation 21:27). The triumph promised by Zechariah is secured in the Lamb, ensuring an everlasting kingdom free from every עָצָב.
Forms and Transliterations
הָֽעֲצַבִּ֑ים הָֽעֲצַבִּים֙ העצבים וְלַעֲצַבֶּֽיהָ׃ ולעצביה׃ לַעֲצַבֵּ֣י לָֽעֲצַבִּ֑ים לעצבי לעצבים עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם עֲצַבִּ֔ים עֲצַבִּ֛ים עֲצַבֵּ֣י עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֔ם עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֖ם עֲצַבֶּ֔יהָ עֲצַבֶּ֖יהָ עָצְבִּ֣י עצבי עצביה עצביהם עצבים ‘ă·ṣab·bê ‘ă·ṣab·be·hā ‘ă·ṣab·bê·hem ‘ă·ṣab·bîm ‘ā·ṣə·bî ‘ăṣab·bê·hem ‘ăṣabbê ‘ăṣabbehā ‘ăṣabbêhem ‘ăṣabbîm ‘āṣəbî atzabBei atzabBeiha atzabbeiHem atzabBim atzeBi hā‘ăṣabbîm hā·‘ă·ṣab·bîm haatzabBim la‘ăṣabbê lā‘ăṣabbîm la·‘ă·ṣab·bê lā·‘ă·ṣab·bîm laatzabBei laatzabBim velaatzabBeiha wə·la·‘ă·ṣab·be·hā wəla‘ăṣabbehā
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
