Lexical Summary tsaba: hosts, army, war Original Word: צָבָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appointed time, army, battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, Or (feminine) tsbadah {tseb-aw-aw'}; from tsaba'; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. Organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship) -- appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare). see HEBREW tsaba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsaba Definition army, war, warfare NASB Translation armies (23), army (79), army* (1), battle (1), combat (1), conflict (1), forced to labor (1), hardship (1), host (30), hosts (292), hosts is the army (1), most (1), service (10), struggle (1), trained (1), war (35), warfare (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צָבָא :485 noun masculine2Chronicles 28:9 (possibly feminine Isaiah 10:2; Isaiah 40:2; Daniel 8:12, but see AlbrZAW xv (1895), 319; BevDn) army, war, warfare; — absolute ׳צ Numbers 1:3 + (מִצָּבָה Zechariah 9:8); construct צְבָא Numbers 10:15 +; suffix צְבָאִי Job 14:14; צְבָאֲךָ Judges 8:9; Judges 9:29; צְבָיָו Psalm 103:21; Psalm 148:2 (Kt צבאו; so read probably in both), etc.; plural צְבָאוֺת Numbers 20:9 278t.; construct צִבְאוֺת Exodus 12:41 2t.; suffix צִבְאֹתַי Exodus 7:4; צִבְאֹתָם Exodus 6:26 +, etc.; — 1 army, host: a. organized for war Judges 8:6; Judges 9:29 (J) Isaiah 34:2; Jeremiah 51:3; 2Chronicles 28:9; צְבָאוֺ his host Numbers 2:4,6 10t. 2 (P), לְצִבְאֹתָם Numbers 1:3,52; Numbers 2:3,9 11t. Numbers 2:10; Numbers 33:1 (P); ׳אַלְפֵי הצ Numbers 31:48 (P); ישׂראל ׳צ2Chronicles 25:7; ׳חֵיל (ה)צ 1 Chronicles 20:1; 2Chronicles 26:13; ׳גְּדוּדֵי צ 1 Chronicles 7:4; כלהֿצבא 2 Samuel 3:23; 2 Samuel 10:7; 1 Chronicles 19:8; 2Chronicles 26:14; ׳(ה)צ שַׂר captain of (the) host Genesis 21:22,32 (E) Genesis 26:26 (J) Judges 4:2,7; 1 Samuel 12:9 21t.; (ה)צבא שָׂרֵי 1 Kings 1:25 (but read שַׂר), 1 Chronicles 25:1; 1 Chronicles 26:26; 2Chronicles 33:11; ׳שָׂרִים בצ 1 Chronicles 12:22; (ה)צבאות שָׂרֵי Deuteronomy 20:9; 1 Kings 2:5; 1 Chronicles 27:3; ׳רָאשֵׁי הצ 1 Chronicles 12:14; מַלְכֵי צבאות Psalm 68:13; ׳(ה)צ עַל over the host (as captain) Numbers 10:14,15 10t. Numbers 10 (P), 2 Samuel 8:16 = 1 Chronicles 18:15; 2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Kings 2:35; 1 Kings 4:4; אלֿ ׳כל הצ 2 Samuel 20:23 (אל for על); עַלצִֿבְאֹתָם Exodus 6:26; Exodus 12:51 (P); הוציא צבאות lead out armies Exodus 7:4; Exodus 12:17 (P); ׳יצא צ army goes forth (to war) Exodus 12:41; 1 Chronicles 7:11; לֹא תֵצֵא בְּצִבְאוֺתֵינוּ Psalm 44:10, of ׳י going with our armies = Psalm 60:12 = Psalm 108:12; figurative of great number, צבא רב Psalm 68:12. — On חֲלִיפוֺת וְצָבָא Job 10:17 see Di; Bu proposes תַּחֲלֵף צְבָאֲ(ךָׅ i.e. thou dost renew (thine) army against me. b. host (organized body) of angels (compare Luke 2:13), צבא השׁמים (כל) all the host of heaven 1 Kings 22:19 2Chronicles 18:18; Nehemiah 9:6; כל צבאיו Psalm 103:21; Psalm 148:2; צבא הַמָּרוֺם Isaiah 24:21 host of the high (angle-princes; "" earthly monarchs); צבא השׁמים Daniel 8:10, הצבא Daniel 8:10 (al. vb figurative of Israel); ׳י ׳שׂר צ captain of the host of ׳י Joshua 5:14,15 (theophanic angel); שׂר הצבא Daniel 8:11 (angel-prince of Israel, others, God). c. of sun, moon and stars, כלצבא השׁמים Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3,5 2Chronicles 33:3,5; 2 Kings 23:4,5; Jeremiah 8:2; Jeremiah 19:13 (all as objects of worship), Isaiah 34:4; השׁמים ׳צ Jeremiah 33:22; Zephaniah 1:5; כל צבאם Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 34:4; Isaiah 45:12; צבאם Isaiah 40:26. — Jeremiah 3:19 see I. צְבִי. d. of the entire creation, כל צבאם Genesis 2:1. 2 war, warfare, service: יָצָא צָבָא go out to war Numbers 1:3,20 12t. Numbers 1; Numbers 26:2 (P) 1 Chronicles 5:18; 1 Chronicles 7:11; 1 Chronicles 12:33; 1 Chronicles 12:36; 2Chronicles 25:5; 26:11; ׳יצא בצ Numbers 31:36 (P) Deuteronomy 24:5; ׳יצא לצ Numbers 31:27,28 (P); ׳עלה לצ go up to war Joshua 22:12,33 (P); ׳בא מצ come from war Numbers 31:14; 2Chronicles 28:12; ׳קבץ לצ 1 Samuel 28:1; ׳שׁלח לצ Numbers 31:4,6 (twice in verse) (P) התיחשׂם ׳בּצ 1 Chronicles 7:40; תִנָּתֵן ׳צ Daniel 8:12; ׳אַנְשֵׁי (ה)צ men of war Numbers 31:21,53 (P) 1 Chronicles 12:8, compare ׳עַם הצ Numbers 31:32(P); see also II. חלץ; ׳גִבּוֺרֵי חַיִל לצ 1 Chronicles 12:25; ׳כְּלֵי צ 1 Chronicles 12:37 instruments of war. 3 service: a. of Levites in sacred places Numbers 4:3,23,30,35,39,43; Numbers 8:24,25; קֹדֶשׁ וְצָבָא Daniel 8:13 (al. as Daniel 8:11, 1b). b. of hard service of troubled life Job 7:1; Job 14:14; Isaiah 40:2; Daniel 10:1. 4 צְבָאוֺת, in name of ׳י as God of war, probably first in time of warlike David (some connect with sacred ark, but ark older), explained יהוה צבאות אֱלֹחֵי מערכות ישׂראל 1 Samuel 17:45 ׳י Sebaoth God of the battle array of Israel (the thought of angels and stars as army of God is later); a. earliest form with article: אֱלֹהֵי הַצְּבָאוֺת ׳י Amos 3:13; Amos 6:14; Amos 9:5 (אֱלֹהֵי omitted by error, compare We), Hosea 12:6. b. without article, definite by usage, אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֺת ׳י 2 Samuel 5:10; Amos 5:14,15,16; Amos 6:8; 1 Kings 19:10,14; Jeremiah 5:14; Jeremiah 15:16; Psalm 89:9; אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳י Jeremiah 35:17; Jeremiah 38:17; Jeremiah 44:7; 1 Samuel 7:27 = 1 Chronicles 17:24; Isaiah 21:10; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 1st אֱלֹהֵי omitted Jeremiah 7:3,21 30t. Jeremiah; Zephaniah 2:9; אלהי ישׂראל ׳אלהים צ ׳י Psalm 59:6 (אלהים variant of ׳י); שְׁמוֺ ׳צ ׳א ׳י, ׳י God of hosts his name Amos 4:13; Amos 5:27, later reduced to ׳צ ׳י שְׁמוֺ Isaiah 47:4; Isaiah 48:2; Isaiah 51:15; Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 10:16; Jeremiah 31:35 6t. Jeremiah c. as proper name Sebaoth: צבאות ׳י, ׳י Sebaoth (Lord of hosts, Vrss, owing to Qr אֲדֹנָי, but this never construct אֲדֹנֵי; al. ׳י of hosts, but < names in apposition, since ׳י is proper name; ׳צ for earlier ׳אלהי צ; compare Σαβαωθ James 5:4; Romans 9:29): 1 Samuel 1:3,11; 1 Samuel 4:4; 1 Samuel 15:2; 1 Samuel 17:45; 2 Samuel 6:2,18; 2 Samuel 7:8,26; 1 Kings 18:15; 2 Kings 3:14; 2 Kings 19:31; 1 Chronicles 11:9; 1 Chronicles 17:7; Psalm 24:10 6t. Psalms; Micah 4:4; Nahum 2:14; Nahum 3:5; Habakkuk 2:13; Zephaniah 2:10; Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 2:12; Isaiah 5:7,9,16,24 35t. Isaiah 6-39; Isa2, only Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 45:13; Jeremiah 6:6,9; Jeremiah 8:3; Jeremiah 9:6; Jeremiah 9:16 26t. Jeremiah; Haggai 1:2,5 12t. Haggai; Zechariah 1:3 (3 t. in verse); Zechariah 1:4 40t. Zechariah 1-8; Zechariah 9:15 8t. Zechariah 10-14; Malachi 1:4,6,8 21t. Malachi; ׳צ ׳האדון י Isaiah 1:24 4t. Isaiah (including Isaiah 10:16 Baer Gi > van d. H. אֲדֹנָי for ׳י); ׳צ ׳אֲדֹנָי י Isaiah 3:15 + (on these phrase see אָדוֺן 1, 6); ׳אלהים צ (׳א later Qr for original ׳י) Psalm 80:8; Psalm 80:15; ׳אלהים צ ׳י (earlier ׳י + later [inserted] ׳א) Psalm 80:5; Psalm 80:20; Psalm 84:9. — compare DrHastings DB (1900), LORD OF HOSTS and references, LöhrAmos (Beiheftezur ZAW iv (1900), 38-67). צְבָאוֺת, צִבְאוֺת, צְבָאִים see further I, II. צְבִי. צְבֹאִים see צְבֹיִים. I. צבב (√ of following; compare Assyrian ƒumbu (=*ƒubbu), cart; ᵑ7 צִיבָּא low, covered wagon). Topical Lexicon Scope and Semantic Rangeצָבָא (tsābāʼ) gathers the ideas of organized strength, ordered service, and relentless perseverance. Whether describing Israel’s conscripted fighting forces, the angelic armies of Heaven, or the steady rotations of priestly duty, the term summons the picture of disciplined ranks accomplishing the will of the LORD. Out of roughly 486 occurrences, most cluster around four spheres: military mobilization, heavenly bodies, angelic beings, and tabernacle-temple service. Each sphere reveals dimensions of divine authority and covenant faithfulness. Military and National Defense Tsābāʼ first appears corporately in Exodus, where the newly redeemed nation is called “the armies of the LORD” (Exodus 12:41). Numbers 1–4 recounts the census “of all who are able to serve in Israel’s army” (Numbers 1:3), arranging the tribes in battle formation around the tabernacle. Victory and defeat alike are narrated in terms of obedience to the LORD supervising His tsābāʼ (for example, Deuteronomy 20:1; Joshua 11:4-8; Judges 20:1-48). David’s reign further institutionalizes the army; Joab commands the tsābāʼ (2 Samuel 2:13), and loyal companies such as “the mighty men” reflect covenant courage (2 Samuel 23:8-39). Prophets later interpret national collapse in military language: “The LORD has delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon all the people of this city and everything that belongs to it” (Jeremiah 38:3). Heavenly Host: Sun, Moon, and Stars Genesis closes the creation narrative by calling the celestial bodies “their host” (Genesis 2:1). Scripture then warns against worshiping “the host of heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:19), a sin later committed by kings such as Manasseh (2 Kings 21:3). Yet the stars obey fixed statutes given by the Creator (Job 38:33), highlighting the theme of ordered service: the cosmos itself forms a tsābāʼ responding to God’s command. Angelic Hosts and Divine Warfare Visions unveil a spiritual army behind earthly events. Micaiah sees “the LORD sitting on His throne with all the host of heaven standing by Him” (1 Kings 22:19). Elisha prays, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see,” and the mountains blaze with “horses and chariots of fire” (2 Kings 6:17). Joshua meets the mysterious “Commander of the army of the LORD” (Joshua 5:14), anticipating Revelation’s Rider on the white horse (Revelation 19:11-14). The frequent title “LORD of Hosts” (Yahweh Ṣebaoth) fuses sovereignty and covenant loyalty; He commands both angelic and human forces to accomplish His redemptive plan (Psalm 24:10; Isaiah 6:3). Cultic and Levitical Service Tsābāʼ also describes orderly ministry assignments. The Levites “performed the service of the tabernacle” (Numbers 4:23), rotating like military units on tour. Their song services are similarly called “the duties of their service” (1 Chronicles 25:1). Even the daily lighting of lamps and presentation of offerings belong to this sacrificial tsābāʼ (Exodus 38:8). The term thus dignifies worship as disciplined, God-centered labor. War, Judgment, and Divine Sovereignty Through tsābāʼ, Scripture ties human conflict to moral accountability. When Israel rebels, God musters hostile armies as instruments of chastening (Isaiah 13:4-5; Habakkuk 1:6-11). Conversely, repentance invites His protective hosts (Haggai 2:4-5). Daniel’s apocalyptic visions portray a little horn that “harassed the host and some of the stars” (Daniel 8:10), yet divine judgment ultimately vindicates the saints (Daniel 12:1). Messianic Fulfillment Messianic prophecy intertwines tsābāʼ language with hope. The Branch of Jesse will “assemble the outcasts of Israel” (Isaiah 11:12), forming a redeemed host. The Servant’s obedience contrasts national faithlessness, ensuring final victory. New Testament writers echo military imagery—believers become “good soldiers of Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3) and “share in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12), thus entering the true tsābāʼ under the risen Commander (Hebrews 2:10). Eschatological Outlook Zechariah foretells a day when “there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of Hosts” (Zechariah 14:21), signaling purified worship. Revelation culminates with Heaven’s armies following the Word of God (Revelation 19:14), echoing every previous manifestation of tsābāʼ and assuring believers that the final battle is the Lord’s (2 Chronicles 20:15). Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Discipleship as Ordered Service: Just as Levites kept watch in regular rotations, congregations today participate in ongoing, structured ministries (1 Corinthians 14:40). In sum, צָבָא weaves together martial valor, celestial order, angelic authority, and consecrated worship, all rallying under the banner of the covenant-keeping God who never loses a battle. Forms and Transliterations בְּצִבְאֹתֵֽינוּ׃ בְּצִבְאוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ בַּצָּבָ֑א בַּצָּבָ֔א בַּצָּבָֽא׃ בַּצָּבָא֙ בצבא בצבא׃ בצבאותינו׃ בצבאתינו׃ הַצְּבָא֑וֹת הַצְּבָא֖וֹת הַצְּבָא֗וֹת הַצְּבָאֽוֹת׃ הַצָּבָ֑א הַצָּבָ֔א הַצָּבָ֖א הַצָּבָ֗א הַצָּבָ֜א הַצָּבָ֤א הַצָּבָ֥א הַצָּבָֽא׃ הַצָּבָא֙ הצבא הצבא׃ הצבאות הצבאות׃ וְצָבָ֖א וְצָבָ֛א וְצָבָ֣א וּצְבָ֥א וּצְבָא֖וֹ וצבא וצבאו לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם לְצִבְאֹתָ֔ם לְצִבְאֹתָ֖ם לְצִבְאֹתָֽם׃ לִֽצְבָאֲךָ֖ לִצְבָ֣א לַצָּבָ֑א לַצָּבָ֔א לַצָּבָֽא׃ לצבא לצבא׃ לצבאך לצבאתם לצבאתם׃ מִצְּבָ֣א מִצְּבָ֥א מצבא צְ֭בָאוֹת צְבָ֔א צְבָ֖א צְבָ֖אֹות צְבָ֣א צְבָ֤א צְבָ֥א צְבָ֨א צְבָ֫א֥וֹת צְבָֽא־ צְבָא֑וֹ צְבָא֑וֹת צְבָא֔וֹ צְבָא֔וֹת צְבָא֖וֹת צְבָא֗וֹת צְבָא֛וֹ צְבָא֛וֹת צְבָא֜וֹת צְבָא֡וֹת צְבָא֣וֹת צְבָא֤וֹת צְבָאֲךָ֖ צְבָאִ֣י צְבָאָ֑יו צְבָאָ֑ם צְבָאָ֔הּ צְבָאָ֖ם צְבָאָ֗ם צְבָאָ֣ם צְבָאָֽהּ׃ צְבָאָֽיו׃ צְבָאָֽם׃ צְבָאֽוֹ׃ צְבָאֽוֹת׃ צְבָאוֹ֙ צְבָאוֹת֒ צְבָאוֹת֙ צְבָאוֹת֩ צְבָאוֹת֮ צִבְא֣וֹת צִבְא֥וֹת צִבְאֹתַ֜י צִבְאֹתָֽם׃ צִבְאוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם צָבָ֔א צָבָ֖א צָבָ֗א צָבָ֛א צָבָ֜א צָבָ֞א צָבָ֣א צָבָ֥א צָבָ֧א צָבָֽא׃ צָבָא֙ צבא צבא־ צבא׃ צבאה צבאה׃ צבאו צבאו׃ צבאות צבאות׃ צבאותיכם צבאי צבאיו צבאיו׃ צבאך צבאם צבאם׃ צבאתי צבאתם׃ baṣ·ṣā·ḇā baṣṣāḇā batztzaVa bə·ṣiḇ·’ō·ṯê·nū bə·ṣiḇ·’ō·w·ṯê·nū bəṣiḇ’ōṯênū bəṣiḇ’ōwṯênū betzivoTeinu haṣ·ṣā·ḇā haṣ·ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ haṣṣāḇā haṣṣəḇā’ōwṯ hatztzaVa hatztzevaot laṣ·ṣā·ḇā laṣṣāḇā latztzaVa lə·ṣiḇ·’ō·ṯām ləṣiḇ’ōṯām letzivoTam liṣ·ḇā liṣ·ḇā·’ă·ḵā liṣḇā liṣḇā’ăḵā litzVa litzvaaCha miṣ·ṣə·ḇā miṣṣəḇā mitztzeVa ṣā·ḇā ṣāḇā ṣə·ḇā ṣə·ḇā- ṣə·ḇā·’ă·ḵā ṣə·ḇā·’āh ṣə·ḇā·’ām ṣə·ḇā·’āw ṣə·ḇā·’î ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ ṣə·ḇā·’ōw ṣəḇā ṣəḇā- ṣəḇā’āh ṣəḇā’ăḵā ṣəḇā’ām ṣəḇā’āw ṣəḇā’î ṣəḇā’ōw ṣəḇā’ōwṯ ṣiḇ’ōṯām ṣiḇ’ōṯay ṣiḇ’ōwṯ ṣiḇ’ōwṯêḵem ṣiḇ·’ō·ṯām ṣiḇ·’ō·ṯay ṣiḇ·’ō·w·ṯê·ḵem ṣiḇ·’ō·wṯ tzaVa tzeVa tzevaaCha tzevaAh tzevaAm tzevaAv tzevaI tzevaO tzevaot tzivot tzivoTai tzivoTam tzivoteiChem ū·ṣə·ḇā ū·ṣə·ḇā·’ōw ūṣəḇā ūṣəḇā’ōw utzeVa utzevaO vetzaVa wə·ṣā·ḇā wəṣāḇāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 2:1 HEB: וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכָל־ צְבָאָֽם׃ NAS: were completed, and all their hosts. KJV: were finished, and all the host of them. INT: and the earth and all their hosts Genesis 21:22 Genesis 21:32 Genesis 26:26 Exodus 6:26 Exodus 7:4 Exodus 12:17 Exodus 12:41 Exodus 12:51 Numbers 1:3 Numbers 1:3 Numbers 1:20 Numbers 1:22 Numbers 1:24 Numbers 1:26 Numbers 1:28 Numbers 1:30 Numbers 1:32 Numbers 1:34 Numbers 1:36 Numbers 1:38 Numbers 1:40 Numbers 1:42 Numbers 1:45 Numbers 1:52 486 Occurrences |
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