צָוָה

A Hebrew verb whose range of meaning Lapide explains to refute Calvin's argument that God commanded evil. The Hebrew tsavah means "to ordain, to provide, to dispose" and covers all of God's providence (positive, negative, and permissive), not merely direct command.

Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture

• I. The Old Testament Establishes Faith — Lapide explains the Hebrew tsava as a key Hebraism that refutes Calvin's claim that "the Lord commanded Shimei to curse David" means God authored evil

  "whoever does not know what the Hebrew tsava means, that is, "God commanded Shimei," etc., will not escape Calvin's clutches; but whoever knows the Hebraism, namely that tsava means to ordain, to provide, to dispose, and signifies all of God's providence, both positive and negative and permissive, will blow away this weapon like a spider's web."