Lexical Summary tseba: wished, wishes, desired Original Word: צְבָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance will, would (Aramaic) corresponding to pithrown in the figurative sense of summoning one's wishes; to please -- will, would. see HEBREW pithrown NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to tsaba Definition to be inclined, desire, be pleased NASB Translation desired (1), will (1), wished (4), wishes (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צְבָא] verb be inclined, desire, be pleased (ᵑ7 Syriac; compare Biblical Hebrew II. צבה); — Pe`al 1. desire: Perfect1singular צְבִית (K§ 47 Beisp. 1) a) NöGGA, 1884, 1019 perfect intransitive) Daniel 7:19 (c. infinitive). 2 be pleased, will (without hindrance), absolute, of God: Imperfect3masculine singular יִצְבֵּא Daniel 4:14; Daniel 4:22; Daniel 4:29; Infinitive suffix מִצְבְּיֵהּ Daniel 4:32 according to his willing; of Nebuchadnezzar: Participle active צָבֵא Daniel 5:19 (4 t. in verse) Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Semantic Range צְבָא describes the will, pleasure, or decision of a superior authority. It speaks of the inner resolve that produces outward action, especially the prerogative to dispose of persons or events exactly as one chooses. Occurrences in Daniel 1. Daniel 4:17 – The heavenly decree is issued “so that the living may know that the Most High rules … and gives it to whom He wills.” Historical Setting Daniel ministers during the Babylonian and early Persian periods, when absolute monarchs claimed unchecked power. By repeatedly employing צְבָא, the narrative exposes the fragile limits of human sovereignty and reveals that every empire answers to a higher will—God’s. Divine Sovereignty The term consistently underscores that: Human Authority as Delegated Nebuchadnezzar’s unchecked power (Daniel 5:19) is presented as borrowed, not inherent. When the king forgets this, judgment falls (Daniel 4:25, 32). Thus צְבָא becomes a recurring reminder that human rulers are stewards, not ultimate lords. Ministry Implications 1. Assurance in Turbulent Times – Believers under oppressive regimes can rest in the certainty that “He does according to His will” (Daniel 4:35). Christological Connection The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the ultimate expression of God’s sovereign will (Ephesians 1:9-10). The authority claimed in Daniel is vested in the risen Christ (Matthew 28:18), ensuring that the same צְבָא guiding ancient kingdoms now governs the advance of the gospel. Living Application • Trust – Rest in God’s unassailable right to order every circumstance. Forms and Transliterations וּֽכְמִצְבְּיֵ֗הּ וכמצביה יִצְבֵּ֖א יִצְבֵּ֖ה יִצְבֵּא֙ יצבא יצבה צְבִית֙ צָבֵ֖א צָבֵ֜א צָבֵא֙ צבא צבית ṣā·ḇê ṣāḇê ṣə·ḇîṯ ṣəḇîṯ tzaVe tzeVit ū·ḵə·miṣ·bə·yêh uchemitzbeYeh ūḵəmiṣbəyêh yiṣ·bê yiṣ·bêh yiṣbê yiṣbêh yitzBe yitzBehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:17 HEB: וּלְמַן־ דִּ֤י יִצְבֵּא֙ יִתְּנִנַּ֔הּ וּשְׁפַ֥ל NAS: it on whom He wishes And sets KJV: it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up INT: to whomsoever forasmuch wishes and bestows the lowliest Daniel 4:25 Daniel 4:32 Daniel 4:35 Daniel 5:19 Daniel 5:19 Daniel 5:19 Daniel 5:19 Daniel 5:21 Daniel 7:19 10 Occurrences |