Lexical Summary
tsayid: Game, hunting, provision
Original Word:צַיִד
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:tsayid
Pronunciation:tsah'-yid
Phonetic Spelling:(tsah'-yid)
KJV: X catcheth, food, X hunter, (that which he took in) hunting, venison, victuals
Word Origin:[from a form ofH6679 (צּוּד - hunt) and meaning the same]
1. the chase
2. (also) game (thus taken)
3. (generally) lunch (especially for a journey)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
catch, food, hunter, that which he took in hunting, venison, victuals
From a form oftsuwd and meaning the same; the chase; also game (thus taken); (generally) lunch (especially for a journey) -- X catcheth, food, X hunter, (that which he took in) hunting, venison, victuals.
see HEBREWtsuwd
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. ; — absolute
Genesis 10:9+,
Genesis 27:3 (Qr; > Kt ),
Nehemiah 13:15, construct
Genesis 27:25; suffix
Genesis 27:19, etc.; —
huntingGenesis 27:30;Genesis 10:9 (twice in verse),Genesis 25:27 (all J).
game hunted and taken (compare BaNB 161),Genesis 25:28;Genesis 27:3 (see above)Genesis 27:5;Genesis 27:7;Genesis 27:19;Genesis 27:25;Genesis 27:31;Genesis 27:33 (all J), compareProverbs 12:27;Leviticus 17:13 (H).
II. [] ; — absoluteNehemiah 13:15; suffixJob 38:41, etc.; —provision taken on journeyJoshua 9:14,Joshua 9:5 (both J E); more Generally (late).food, food-supply,Nehemiah 13:15.Psalm 132:15, of ravenJob 38:41. — I. see
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Range of Meaningצַיִד (tsayid) denotes both the act of hunting and the food supplied through the hunt. In narrative settings the word often conveys skill, strength, or appetite; in legal and wisdom texts it can signify sustenance, diligence, or commercial “provisions.”
Key Old Testament Portraits
1.Nimrod: Hunting and Human Prowess
Genesis 10:9 introduces Nimrod as “a mighty hunter before the LORD.” His reputation for prowess made him proverbial. The verse underscores that extraordinary skill in taking game could elevate a man’s renown, yet it also foreshadows the tendency of human might to seek dominion apart from God.
2.Esau and Isaac: Appetite, Favor, and Family Conflict
Genesis 25:27-34;Genesis 27:1-33 anchor צַיִד in household dynamics. Esau’s identity is inseparable from the chase: “Esau became a skilled hunter” (Genesis 25:27). Isaac’s partiality—“Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau” (Genesis 25:28)—creates a fissure that Rebekah and Jacob exploit. The repeated references to “game” inGenesis 27 expose how unchecked appetite (both for food and paternal blessing) can entangle an entire family.
3.Levitical Instruction: Hunters under the Covenant
Leviticus 17:13 applies holiness regulations to the hunter: “Anyone…who hunts down any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain its blood and cover it with dirt.” The command affirms hunting as legitimate while subordinating it to reverence for life and obedience to God’s statutes.
4.Joshua and the Gibeonites: “Provisions” without Prayer
Joshua 9:14 reports, “The men of Israel sampled their provisions, but they did not seek the counsel of the LORD.” Here צַיִד refers to travel supplies deceptively presented as proof of a long journey. The episode warns that judging by outward “provisions” without divine guidance leads to binding, avoidable alliances.
5.Nehemiah’s Reform: Commerce of Food on the Sabbath
InNehemiah 13:15 the term appears in a list of goods traded on the Sabbath: “I warned them against selling food on that day.” צַיִד is broadened to any marketable victuals, and its Sabbath abuse highlights the ease with which necessities can crowd out covenant priorities.
Wisdom and Poetic Reflections
•Job 38:41 marvels at God’s providence for the raven: “Who provides food for the raven?” Human hunters depend on skill; the Creator sustains even scavengers.
•Psalm 132:15 promises Zion “abundant provisions,” transferring imagery of game-feast to covenant blessing.
•Proverbs 12:27 contrasts diligence and sloth: “A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.” Hunting’s reward is squandered by indolence; wisdom values follow-through as much as acquisition.
Cultural Background
Hunting in the Ancient Near East served multiple functions:
– Survival and diet, especially for pastoralists in uncultivated zones.
– Royal sport, often symbolizing dominion over chaos.
– Economic exchange; dried or salted game became portable “provisions.”
Biblical usage recognizes these realities yet frames hunting within moral and covenantal boundaries.
Theological and Pastoral Insights
• Skill and Provision: God permits and equips people to secure food through skillful endeavor (Genesis 27:3). Yet success must lead to gratitude, not pride (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).
• Appetite and Discernment: Esau’s impetuous trade of birthright for stew warns against privileging immediate appetite over long-term spiritual inheritance (Hebrews 12:16-17 alludes to this).
• Blood and Sanctity:Leviticus 17 establishes that even when game is taken in the wild, life’s sanctity demands respectful handling.
• Decision-Making: Israel’s treaty with Gibeon shows that material evidence—“provisions”—must be tested by prayerful inquiry.
• Sabbath and Commerce: Nehemiah’s reforms counsel believers to guard sacred rhythms against encroachment by economic pursuits, even legitimate ones like food trade.
Contemporary Ministry Applications
• Personal Discipline: Hunters prepare, pursue, and patiently track their quarry—traits valuable for spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Scripture study (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
• Stewardship of Creation: Levitical principles invite modern believers to hunt or consume meat responsibly, with respect for life and ecosystems.
• Guarding Appetites: Teaching on Esau equips congregations to identify and resist impulsive decisions that jeopardize spiritual priorities.
• Leadership Decisions:Joshua 9:14 equips church boards and mission committees to precede practical evaluations with earnest prayer.
• Work Ethic:Proverbs 12:27 encourages believers to finish what they start—whether in vocation, study, or ministry—honoring God through excellence.
Conclusion
צַיִד threads through Scripture as a tangible expression of human skill, need, and desire. Whether portraying a mighty hunter, a father’s palate, covenant law, or wisdom’s counsel, each occurrence summons readers to integrate practical provision with reverent obedience, ensuring that every chase, meal, and decision remains “before the LORD.”
Forms and Transliterations
מִצֵּ֣יד מִצֵּידִ֔י מִצֵּידָ֑ם מִצֵּידֽוֹ׃ מציד מצידו׃ מצידי מצידם צֵ֥יד צֵ֫יד֥וֹ צֵ֭ידָהּ צֵיד֑וֹ צַ֖יִד צַ֛יִד צַ֣יִד צַיִד֩ צָֽיִד׃ ציד ציד׃ צידה צידו miṣ·ṣê·ḏām miṣ·ṣê·ḏî miṣ·ṣê·ḏōw miṣ·ṣêḏ miṣṣêḏ miṣṣêḏām miṣṣêḏî miṣṣêḏōw mitzTzeid mitztzeiDam mitztzeiDi mitztzeiDo ṣa·yiḏ ṣā·yiḏ ṣayiḏ ṣāyiḏ ṣê·ḏāh ṣê·ḏōw ṣêḏ ṣêḏāh ṣêḏōw Tzayid tzeid Tzeidah tzeiDo
Links
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