צָהַר
𐤑𐤄𐤓
tsâhar
H6671 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To press or extract oil, specifically olive oil, from fruit by mechanical pressure, often through crushing or squeezing; also, more generally, to produce oil. The verb is rare and pertains to the action of obtaining oil as a product, typically within the context of agricultural or ritual processes in the Hebrew Bible.
Semantic Range
to press out olive oil, to produce oil by pressing, to extract oil from olives
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root צהר, likely related to the noun יִצְהָר (yitshar, meaning 'fresh olive oil, especially oil newly pressed'), suggesting a denominative development: the verb צָהַר comes from the noun for oil, meaning 'to make (that) oil', i.e., to press oil. The root itself is not otherwise attested in base form in the Hebrew Bible but is reconstructed based on the noun formation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb צָהַר is extremely rare, found only in Micah 6:15, where it describes the futility of agricultural effort: 'you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil (יִצְהָר)'. The link to יִצְהָר underlines its context of olive oil production, a significant part of Israelite agrarian and cultic life. Lexical evidence indicates that this verb is used specifically for oil production rather than general squeezing or extracting, and should not be conflated with other verbs for pressing (e.g., דָּרַךְ for 'treading' grapes or olives). Standard English translations such as 'to press out oil' or 'to make oil' are accurate for this context but should be understood as referring specifically to the agricultural and ritual aspects of olive oil in ancient Israel. In later Hebrew and rabbinic usage, more general or different terms are employed for oil pressing, indicating a semantic narrowing of צָהַר to a specific biblical context. No evidence supports broader or figurative usage in the First Temple or later periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to glisten; used only as denominative from יִצְהָר,; to press out oil; make oil.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צהר (ṣ-h-r) — shine, glisten, press out oil
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3323 | יִצְהָר | the bright oil |
| H3324 | יִצְהָר | and Yitshar |
| H3325 | יִצְהָרִי | the Yitzharite clansman |
| H6672 | צֹהַר | in the double-brightness |
| H6889 | צֶרֶת | Bright-One |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6671-01 |
יַצְהִ֑ירוּ | yatsehiru | HVhi3mp |
they press | they press out oil | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6671-01 |
Job 24:11 | יַצְהִ֑ירוּ | yatsehiru | HVhi3mp |
they press | they press out oil |