צִיחָא
𐤑𐤉𐤇𐤀
Tsîychâʼ
H6727 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name used for two individuals or clans among the Nethinim, likely referencing a concept of 'parchedness' or 'dryness' but functioning predominantly as a proper noun within biblical lists. Its lexical form suggests a feminine derivation of an adjective meaning 'dry, parched,' but as a name, it does not indicate an explicit gender or role beyond its occurrence in genealogical/temple servant lists.
Semantic Range
proper name (descendant or leader among Nethinim); related to the concept of dryness or parchedness as evident in the root; used only as a personal or clan name in the Hebrew Bible
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root צחה (צִחֶה), meaning 'to be parched, dry.' צִיחָא appears as a feminine form, possibly indicating an attribute or a personification of dryness, but is mainly used as a proper name. The name may reflect a characteristic, a geographic origin, or an ancestral designation related to 'dryness.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tsîychâʼ/צִיחָא occurs in Ezra 2:43 and Nehemiah 7:46 each time designating a leader or ancestor of a family among the Nethinim (temple servants) returning from exile. The variant spelling צִחָא also occurs. The underlying adjective צִחֶה ('dry, parched') informs the name's form. No indication exists in the text that the name refers to a female individual or to a literal condition of dryness; rather, it operates in genealogical role lists. The tradition of the Nethinim links them to temple service in the Second Temple period, and their exact ethnic origins are uncertain—biblical lists treat them as a distinct group serving in subordinate roles. English translations usually render the name as 'Ziha' but this does not reflect any semantic nuance present in the Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or צִחָא; as if feminine of צִחֶה; drought; Tsicha, the name of two Nethinim; Ziha.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צחה (ṣ-ḥ-h) — to be dry, to be parched
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6704 | צִחֶה | sun-scorched |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6727-01 |
צִיחָ֥א | tsicha | HNp |
Ziha | Parched-One | 2 |
H6727-02 |
וְ/צִיחָ֥א | vetsicha | HC/Np |
and Ziha | And Parched-One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6727-01 |
Ezra 2:43 | צִיחָ֥א | tsicha | HNp |
Ziha | Parched-One |
H6727-01 |
Nehemiah 7:46 | צִחָ֥א | tsicha | HNp |
Ziha | Parched-One |
H6727-02 |
Nehemiah 11:21 | וְ/צִיחָ֥א | vetsicha | HC/Np |
and Ziha | And Parched-One |