Action noun formed from the newly coined verb tzeba'aize (See relevant
definition). Tzebaism is the act of tzeba'aizing, which is to say, ritual immersion in
water, particularly in the context of ancient Jewish sectarian movements, including the Essenes and the Early Jewish Christians.
As stated in the
definition for tzeba'aize, it is derived via the Judeo-Aramaic צְבַע (ṣəḇaʿ) which refers to the action of dipping, generally in
water, though it can also
mean to dye something. The verb צְבַע is also where we get the term Sabian used to refer to Mandeans. The original Galilean Aramaic word for "immersion" would be צבועותא (ṣabəwʿuṯa) and one who immerses would be צבעוא (ṣəbuʿa). The more contemporary English word baptism likewise comes from the Koine Greek βαπτίζω (baptizo), meaning to immerse or dip in
water. When it comes to Judaic studies, the Aramaicism is preferred over the term baptism because the latter conveys too much of a Western Christian
history that has nothing to do with the early historic roots and is not applicable to Jewish practices of ritual immersion in the 1st century.
Other conjugations of the verbal form include the third-person singular simple present "tzeba'aizes," present participle "tzeba'aizing, simple past and past participle "tzeba'aized.")
At that
time Yoḥanan Tzebu'a arrived in Jordan from the Judean desert and began proclaiming the message of Besorah and exhorting them to the tzeba'aism of repentance for the absolution of incurred guilts.
Yoḥanan spoke, “Yes I tzeba'aize you in
water for the absolution of incurred guilts; but there is one coming after me is more powerful than I—the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down an untie—he
will immerse you in the Ruaḥ Qedushah the Spirit of Holiness, and with
fire. Who's mizreh i.e. winnowing
fork is in his hand; and he
will thoroughly purge his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he shall consume with
fire unquenchable!”
And Yeshua, having been tzeba'aized, suddenly arose, coming straight out of the
water, and see! The shamaya heavens were revealed before him, the veil lifting, and Yoḥanan perceived the Ruaḥ d'Elaha Spirit of
God descending, as if it were a dove, then it gracefully rested upon him: And see! A voice from the midst of the heaven saying, “At hu Bəri ḥabbibah, baḵ əṣtəbʿeṯ.” This is my Son whom I love, in him I am well pleased
