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צִיר

𐤑𐤉𐤓

tsîyr

H6735 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

(1) A hinge, specifically the pivot or axis on which a door swings, reflecting an object subjected to pressure or rotation. (2) Pain or pang, particularly of childbirth or severe distress, both physical and emotional. (3) Messenger or envoy, one dispatched with an official message, often under authority or constraint. The term spans from tangible objects (hardware) to metaphorical or social functions, always implying pressure, urgency, or constraint.

Semantic Range

hinge; pivot; labor pain; pang; throe; intense distress (physical or emotional); messenger; envoy; herald (one dispatched under compulsion or urgent necessity)

Root / Etymology

From the root צוּר (tswr), which fundamentally conveys the idea of pressing, squeezing, or confining. This root gives rise from the notion of applying pressure (as in pressing a hinge into a post, or the constriction of pain or labor) to that of sending or dispatching someone urgently (messenger under compulsion or duty). The noun צִיר develops concrete meanings (door hinge) and abstract or extended ones (pain, envoy).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early biblical texts, צִיר appears primarily in three contexts: (1) As a physical object ('hinge'; Proverbs 26:14), it refers to the axis or pivot on which a door turns, often used in metaphor (as the hinge turns, so does the sluggard in bed). (2) As a figure of distress, it is employed for the intense pain of labor (Isaiah 13:8) or anguish, sometimes extending metaphorically to national calamity. (3) As an official role, it denotes an envoy or messenger sent between nations (Proverbs 13:17, Isaiah 18:2), with the nuance of being compelled by duty. Over time, the 'messenger' sense persisted, while the 'hinge' sense faded outside metaphorical usage. The association with pressure or compulsion (physical or social) runs through all uses. Later English translations sometimes used 'ambassador' or 'herald', which capture only part of the semantic field. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for messenger (מַלְאָךְ, שָׁלִיחַ), which often lack the nuance of compulsion or urgency implied by צִיר.

Translation Consistency

primary "envoy" 5 occurrences

Most common and natural rendering across the attested senses in the P2 data is the messenger/envoy meaning. Choosing “envoy” gives a single, concise noun that fits the social/official sense (often under authority or compulsion) which is the typical usage; the rarer senses (hinge, birth‑pangs) can be handled by context notes or alternate translations.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"pangs" (2x) "birth pangs" (1x) "birth-pangs" (1x) "like the pangs of" (1x) "messenger" (1x) "hinge" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צוּר; a hinge (as pressed in turning); also a throe (as a phys. or mental pressure); also a herald or erranddoer (as constrained by the principal); ambassador, hinge, messenger, pain, pang, sorrow. Compare צִיר.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

צור (Matsor) — to bind, to press in, to enclose, to besiege

Root צור to press, squeeze, confine, send urgently
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4693 מָצוֹר besieged stronghold
H4694 מְצוּרָה the fortified places
H6676 צַוַּאר her nape
H6677 צַוָּאר in the binding-neck
H6696 צוּר the ones besieging

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6735-07 צִירִ֤ים tsirim HNcmpa pangs pressure-throes birth-pangs 3
H6735-08 וְ/צִ֖יר vetsir HC/Ncmsa and an envoy and an envoy and an envoy 3
H6735-01 כְּ/צִירֵ֖י ketsirey HR/Ncmpc like-the-pangs-of hinges of like the pangs of 1
H6735-02 צִ֣יר tsir HNcmsa a messenger urgent envoy messenger 1
H6735-03 צִירָ֑/הּ tsirah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its hinges her hinge her hinge 1
H6735-04 צִירַ/י֙ tsiray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my pains my pangs my pangs 1
H6735-05 צִרַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ tsirayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your envoys your envoys your envoys 1
H6735-06 צִרֶֽי/הָ tsireyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs pains her hinges her birth pangs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6735-06 1 Samuel 4:19 צִרֶֽי/הָ tsireyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs pains her hinges her birth pangs
H6735-07 Isaiah 13:8 צִירִ֤ים tsirim HNcmpa pangs pressure-throes birth-pangs
H6735-07 Isaiah 18:2 צִירִ֗ים tsirim HNcmpa envoys pressure-throes envoys
H6735-07 Isaiah 21:3 צִירִ֣ים tsirim HNcmpa pangs pressure-throes pangs
H6735-01 Isaiah 21:3 כְּ/צִירֵ֖י ketsirey HR/Ncmpc like-the-pangs-of hinges of like the pangs of
H6735-05 Isaiah 57:9 צִרַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ tsirayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your envoys your envoys your envoys
H6735-08 Jeremiah 49:14 וְ/צִ֖יר vetsir HC/Ncmsa and an envoy and an envoy and an envoy
H6735-08 Obadiah 1:1 וְ/צִיר֙ vetsir HC/Ncmsa and an envoy and an envoy and an envoy
H6735-08 Proverbs 13:17 וְ/צִ֖יר vetsir HC/Ncmsc but an envoy and an envoy and an envoy
H6735-02 Proverbs 25:13 צִ֣יר tsir HNcmsa a messenger urgent envoy messenger
H6735-03 Proverbs 26:14 צִירָ֑/הּ tsirah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its hinges her hinge her hinge
H6735-04 Daniel 10:16 צִירַ/י֙ tsiray HNcmpc/Sp1cs my pains my pangs my pangs
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