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צַר

𐤑𐤓

tsar

H6862 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state or condition of narrowness, constriction, or tightness, both in physical and metaphorical senses; by extension, one who causes constriction or difficulty (an adversary, enemy). As a noun, it most commonly refers to trouble, distress, or adversity—situations where one feels 'hemmed in.'

Semantic Range

narrow place, tightness, strait, distress, trouble, adversity, affliction, enemy, adversary, opponent, flint, pebble

Root / Etymology

From the root צ־ר (צָרַר, tsarar), which means 'to bind, tie up, be narrow, be in distress.' The noun derives directly from this root sense of constriction. The connection to 'pebble, flint' reflects a shared sense of hard, compressed object but is not the predominant biblical usage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, צַר is used extensively to describe both literal and figurative tightness: a narrow place or strait, and more frequently, affliction or distress (e.g., in Psalms and prophetic literature, where the language of 'trouble' or 'distress' often indicates military or existential threat). The shift from spatial to emotional or spiritual constriction is typical in biblical Hebrew. As a substantive, צַר can also refer to a person who causes distress—namely, an adversary or enemy (especially in military contexts, such as an attacking army or oppressive individuals). The meaning as 'flint' (a type of hard stone) is context-dependent and appears rarely, related more to the idea of something small, hard, and compressed—this nuance is distinct from the predominant conceptual field of distress/opposition. In modern translations, 'enemy,' 'adversary,' 'distress,' and 'trouble' capture different aspects, sometimes narrowing the sense. Cognate forms occur in Aramaic and other Semitic languages with similar meanings of distress or opposition. The semantic range can overlap with other Hebrew terms for enemy (e.g., אֹיֵב oyev) or distress (e.g., עָנִי 'ani), but צַר specifically emphasizes 'narrowness' and the pressure it brings.

Translation Consistency

primary "trouble" 16 occurrences

SILEX shows the primary, typical sense of צַר is a state of constriction—distress, adversity, or trouble. "Trouble" is the most natural, flexible English noun to cover that central meaning (and can convey adversarial force metaphorically when the word refers to opponents). Although forms like "adversaries" appear frequently, choosing "trouble" prioritizes the common semantic range and yields smooth, consistent English across all occurrences.

Alternatives (34 occurrences):
"adversaries" (12x) "troublers" (10x) "adversary" (3x) "troubler" (2x) "narrow, constricted" (2x) "distress" (2x) "like flint" (1x) "adversaries of" (1x) "narrow" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or צָר; from צָרַר; compare as in צֹר; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ; (transitive) an opponent (as crowding); adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

צ־ר (mêtsar) — to be narrow, to constrict, to press

Root צ־ר to bind, to be narrow, to constrict, to afflict
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4712 מֵצַר the narrow strait

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6862-15 צַר tsar HVqp3ms distress narrow, constricted troubling 32
H6862-01 בַּ/צַּר batsar HRd/Aamsa in distress in the narrow strait in the trouble 14
H6862-19 צָרָ֑י/ו tsarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his adversaries his constrictors those who trouble him 6
H6862-17 צָרָ֑/י tsaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my adversaries my constrictors my troublers 5
H6862-22 צָרֵי/הֶ֔ם tsareyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp of their adversaries their constrictors their troublers 5
H6862-23 צָרֶי/ךָ֮ tsareykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your foes your constrictors your troublers 5
H6862-25 צָרֵ֕י/נוּ tsareynu HNcmpc/Sp1cp our adversaries our constrictors our troublers 5
H6862-20 צָרֵ֥י tsarey HNcmpc adversaries constricting adversaries of troubling adversaries of 4
H6862-03 הַ/צָּ֛ר hatsar HTd/Ncmsa the enemy the constrictor the troubler 3
H6862-08 לְ/צָרָ֔י/ו letsarayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms against-his-adversaries to his constricting-foes to his adversaries 3

Occurrences in Scripture

110 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6862-23 Genesis 14:20 צָרֶ֖י/ךָ tsareykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your enemies your constrictors your troublers
H6862-03 Numbers 10:9 הַ/צַּר֙ hatsar HTd/Ncmsa the adversary the constrictor the troubler
H6862-15 Numbers 22:26 צָ֔ר tsar HAamsa narrow narrow, constricted narrow, constricted
H6862-19 Numbers 24:8 צָרָ֗י/ו tsarayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his enemies his constrictors those who trouble him
H6862-01 Deuteronomy 4:30 בַּ/צַּ֣ר batsar HRd/Aamsa in distress in the narrow strait in the trouble
H6862-24 Deuteronomy 32:27 צָרֵ֑י/מוֹ tsareymo HNcmpc/Sp3mp their adversaries their constrictors their adversaries
H6862-07 Deuteronomy 32:41 לְ/צָרָ֔/י letsaray HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cs to my adversaries to my constrictors to my adversaries
H6862-08 Deuteronomy 32:43 לְ/צָרָ֔י/ו letsarayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms on His adversaries to his constricting-foes to his adversaries
H6862-13 Deuteronomy 33:7 מִ/צָּרָ֖י/ו mitsarayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms against his adversaries his constricting-ones from his adversaries
H6862-10 Joshua 5:13 לְ/צָרֵֽי/נוּ letsareynu HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cp for our adversaries to our constrictors for our adversaries
H6862-15 Judges 11:7 צַ֥ר tsar HVqp3ms distress narrow, constricted troubling
H6862-15 1 Samuel 2:32 צַ֣ר tsar HAamsc distress narrow, constricted troubling
H6862-15 1 Samuel 13:6 צַר tsar HVqp3ms in distress narrow, constricted troubling
H6862-01 2 Samuel 22:7 בַּ/צַּר batsar HRd/Aamsa in my distress in the narrow strait in my distress
H6862-23 2 Samuel 24:13 צָרֶ֜י/ךָ tsareykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your foes your constrictors your troublers
H6862-15 2 Samuel 24:14 צַר tsar HVqp3ms distress narrow, constricted troubling
H6862-15 2 Kings 6:1 צַ֥ר tsar HAamsa narrow narrow, constricted narrow, constricted
H6862-12 Isaiah 1:24 מִ/צָּרַ֔/י mitsaray HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cs of my adversaries my constrictors my adversaries
H6862-04 Isaiah 5:28 כַּ/צַּ֣ר katsar HRd/Ncmsa like flint constriction like flint
H6862-15 Isaiah 5:30 צַ֣ר tsar HAamsa and distress narrow, constricted troubling
H6862-20 Isaiah 9:10 צָרֵ֥י tsarey HNcmpc adversaries of constricting adversaries of troubling adversaries of
H6862-31 Isaiah 11:13 וְ/צֹרְרֵ֥י vetsorerey HC/Vqrmpc and adversaries of and constrictors of and adversaries of
H6862-01 Isaiah 25:4 בַּ/צַּר batsar HRd/Aamsa in distress in the narrow strait in the trouble
H6862-23 Isaiah 26:11 צָרֶ֥י/ךָ tsareykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your-enemies your constrictors your troublers
H6862-01 Isaiah 26:16 בַּ/צַּ֣ר batsar HRd/Aamsa in distress in the narrow strait in the trouble
H6862-15 Isaiah 30:20 צָ֖ר tsar HAamsa of distress narrow, constricted of distress
H6862-15 Isaiah 49:20 צַר tsar HAamsa too narrow narrow, constricted narrow
H6862-08 Isaiah 59:18 לְ/צָרָ֔י/ו letsarayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms to his adversaries to his constricting-foes to his adversaries
H6862-15 Isaiah 59:19 צָ֔ר tsar HVqrmsa narrow narrow, constricted adversary
H6862-15 Isaiah 63:9 צָ֗ר tsar HAamsa adversary narrow, constricted adversary
H6862-25 Isaiah 63:18 צָרֵ֕י/נוּ tsareynu HNcmpc/Sp1cp our adversaries our constrictors our troublers
H6862-09 Isaiah 64:1 לְ/צָרֶ֑י/ךָ letsareykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms to-your-adversaries your constrictors to your adversaries
H6862-18 Jeremiah 30:16 צָרַ֥יִ/ךְ tsarayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your adversaries your constrictors your adversaries
H6862-13 Jeremiah 46:10 מִ/צָּרָ֔י/ו mitsarayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms from-adversaries-his his constricting-ones from his adversaries
H6862-20 Jeremiah 48:5 צָרֵ֥י tsarey HNcmpc distresses constricting adversaries of troubling adversaries of
H6862-30 Jeremiah 50:7 וְ/צָרֵי/הֶ֥ם vetsareyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their adversaries and their constrictors and their adversaries
H6862-20 Ezekiel 30:16 צָרֵ֥י tsarey HNcmpc adversaries constricting adversaries of troubling adversaries of
H6862-22 Ezekiel 39:23 צָרֵי/הֶ֔ם tsareyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp of-their-enemies their constrictors their troublers
H6862-01 Hosea 5:15 בַּ/צַּ֥ר batsar HRd/Aamsa in the distress in the narrow strait in the trouble
H6862-15 Amos 3:11 צַ֖ר tsar HNcmsa adversary narrow, constricted adversary
H6862-23 Micah 5:8 צָרֶ֑י/ךָ tsareykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your adversaries your constrictors your troublers
H6862-08 Nahum 1:2 לְ/צָרָ֔י/ו letsarayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms against-his-adversaries to his constricting-foes to his adversaries
H6862-03 Zechariah 8:10 הַ/צָּ֔ר hatsar HTd/Ncmsa the enemy the constrictor the troubler
H6862-17 Psalms 3:2 צָרָ֑/י tsaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my adversaries my constrictors my troublers
H6862-01 Psalms 4:2 בַּ֭/צָּר batsar HRd/Aamsa in distress in the narrow strait in the trouble
H6862-17 Psalms 13:5 צָרַ֥/י tsaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my adversaries my constrictors my troublers
H6862-01 Psalms 18:7 בַּ/צַּר batsar HRd/Aamsa in my distress in the narrow strait in the trouble
H6862-17 Psalms 27:2 צָרַ֣/י tsaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my adversaries my constrictors my troublers
H6862-17 Psalms 27:12 צָרָ֑/י tsaray HNcmpc/Sp1cs of my enemies my constrictors my troublers
H6862-11 Psalms 32:7 מִ/צַּ֪ר mitsar HR/Aamsa from trouble constricted one from trouble
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