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זַעַק

𐤆𐤏𐤒

zaʻaq

H2201 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זעק to cry out, call for help, shout

Definition

A cry, shout, or outcry—especially one of distress, pain, appeal for help or justice, or expression of emotional intensity. Refers to public or private vocal expressions elicited by suffering, danger, injustice, or urgent need. In specific contexts, indicates a collective outcry in response to wrongdoing or calamity, or the wailing of individuals in distress.

Semantic Range

cry for help, public outcry, shriek of distress, appeal for intervention, wail in danger or pain, collective cry against injustice

Root / Etymology

From the root זָעַק (za'aq), meaning 'to cry out, call for help, shout.' זַעַק is a nominal form derived from this root, signifying the result or product of crying or shouting. The feminine form is זְעָקָה (zᵉ'aqah).

Historical & Contextual Notes

Primarily used to denote loud cries for help or justice in moments of acute distress or danger, especially in judicial, communal, or prophetic contexts (for example, the collective outcry of a city or individuals suffering injustice or calamity). The word is semantically related to other terms like צְעָקָה (tse'aqah) and שָׁוְעָה (shav'ah), which can also denote an outcry but may differ in nuance: זַעַק often emphasizes the intensity and public nature of the cry, whereas שָׁוְעָה highlights supplication or pleading, and צְעָקָה focuses on the piercing, vociferous nature. English translations such as 'cry,' 'outcry,' or 'shriek' capture the main sense but can underrepresent its function as an appeal for intervention, particularly legal or divine. In some prophetical passages, the term becomes a metonym for the injustice or suffering itself (e.g., the 'outcry' of the oppressed rising up to YHWH). The meaning remains consistent across the different stages of biblical Israelite history, especially in describing appeals against oppression or disaster; later periods may use the term in literary or rhetorical contexts, but the core sense is retained.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

and (feminine) זְעָקָהxlit zᵉâqâh corrected to zᵉʻâqâh; from זָעַק; a shriek or outcry; cry(-ing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זעק (z-ʿ-q) — cry out, call for help, shout

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2199 זָעַק in your crying out
H2200 זְעִק he cried out

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2201-09 זְעָקָֽה zeaqah HNcfsa a cry distress-cry 6
H2201-03 מִ/זַּעֲקַ֨ת mizaaqat HR/Ncfsc from the cry from outcry of 3
H2201-06 זַעֲקַ֛ת zaaqat HNcfsc cry outcry of 3
H2201-07 זַֽעֲקָתָ֔/ם zaaqatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their cry their outcry 2
H2201-08 זַעֲקֶ֔/ךָ zaaqekha HVqc/Sp2ms of your cry your crying-out 1
H2201-02 לְ/זַעֲקָתִֽ/י lezaaqati HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs for my cry to my distress-cry 1
H2201-04 וּ/זְעָקָ֖ה uzeaqah HC/Ncfsa and a cry and a distress-cry 1
H2201-05 וְ/זַעֲקָתָֽ/ם vezaaqatam HC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp and their cry and their outcry 1
H2201-01 הַ/זְּעָקָ֖ה hazeaqah HTd/Ncfsa the cry of distress the outcry 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2201-06 Genesis 18:20 זַעֲקַ֛ת zaaqat HNcfsc the outcry of outcry of
H2201-06 Isaiah 15:5 זַעֲקַת zaaqat HNcfsc cry outcry of
H2201-01 Isaiah 15:8 הַ/זְּעָקָ֖ה hazeaqah HTd/Ncfsa the cry of distress the outcry
H2201-08 Isaiah 30:19 זַעֲקֶ֔/ךָ zaaqekha HVqc/Sp2ms of your cry your crying-out
H2201-09 Isaiah 65:19 זְעָקָֽה zeaqah HNcfsa of crying distress-cry
H2201-09 Jeremiah 18:22 זְעָקָה֙ zeaqah HNcfsa a cry distress-cry
H2201-09 Jeremiah 20:16 זְעָקָה֙ zeaqah HNcfsa a cry distress-cry
H2201-09 Jeremiah 48:4 זְּעָקָ֖ה zeaqah HNcfsa a cry distress-cry
H2201-03 Jeremiah 48:34 מִ/זַּעֲקַ֨ת mizaaqat HR/Ncfsc from the cry from outcry of
H2201-04 Jeremiah 50:46 וּ/זְעָקָ֖ה uzeaqah HC/Ncfsa and a cry and a distress-cry
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