צַחְצָחָה
𐤑𐤇𐤑𐤇𐤄
tsachtsâchâh
H6710 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A parched place; a condition or region characterized by lack of water and exposed dryness—particularly an arid, desolate terrain typical of steppe or wilderness. Indicates not only physical drought but the persistent state of aridity in a given area.
Semantic Range
parched place, dry region, desert, wilderness, drought-stricken area, arid or uninhabitable land, state of extreme dryness
Root / Etymology
From the root צָחַח (tsāḥaḥ), which means 'to be parched' or 'to be dry.' The noun צַחְצָחָה builds upon this root, emphasizing a state or place of dryness, especially as pertains to terrain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term צַחְצָחָה appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Jeremiah 17:6) and conveys both literal and figurative senses. In Israelite and Judahite contexts, it is associated with uncultivated wilderness regions, often symbolizing desolation, abandonment, or divine judgment (as in prophetic discourse). Related forms include צִיָּה (ṣiyyāh, 'dry land / desert') and עֲרָבָה (ʿărāvāh, 'steppe, arid plain'), but צַחְצָחָה is more specific to the idea of exposed barrenness. Later translations (including the KJV) render it as 'parched places' or 'salt land,' but the core sense is linked to aridity rather than salinity. The word does not denote the inhabited arid zones (as 'midbar' sometimes does) but emphasizes the inhospitable, unproductive nature of such places, underscoring utter lack of water and fertility. This meaning remained stable across periods but acquired figurative resonance in exilic and post-exilic prophetic literature, representing spiritual or existential barrenness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָחַח; a dry place, i.e. desert; drought.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צחח (ts-ḥ-ḥ) — to be parched, to be dry
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6703 | צַח | radiant |
| H6705 | צָחַח | they blazed white |
| H6706 | צְחִיחַ | in the sunlit heights |
| H6707 | צְחִיחָה | parched land |
| H6708 | צְחִיחִי | in parched exposures |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6710-01 |
בְּ/צַחְצָחוֹת֙ | betsachetsachot | HR/Ncfpa |
in scorched places | in parched places | in parched places | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6710-01 |
Isaiah 58:11 | בְּ/צַחְצָחוֹת֙ | betsachetsachot | HR/Ncfpa |
in scorched places | in parched places | in parched places |