צָרַח
𐤑𐤓𐤇
tsârach
H6873 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cry out loudly or make a piercing, shrill sound; specifically, to emit a loud and sharp vocalization, whether in exultation, distress, alarm, or summons. The verb typically connotes an urgent or intense outcry and may be used for both human and animal cries, especially when emphasizing their forcefulness or volume.
Semantic Range
cry aloud, shout, give a battle cry, wail loudly, emit a piercing cry, howl, roar (as of people or animals)
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology: From the root צ-ר-ח, which at its core indicates producing a loud or shrill sound. The root expresses the idea of calling or crying out forcefully, often in situations requiring urgent communication or emotional intensity. The verbal form צָרַח fits the Qal stem's use to denote the simple act of making such a sound, but the term's lexical meaning is broader and contextually nuanced beyond the mere notion of shrillness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Historically, צָרַח occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, but where it does appear (e.g., Isaiah 42:13; Zephaniah 1:14) it highlights the emotional extremity or immediacy of the cry, often related to battle shouts, proclamations of alarm, or distress signals. The term is less associated with ritual or formal communication and more with spontaneous, unrestrained shouting. Unlike זָעַק (za‘aq, 'to cry out' often for help or appeal) or קָרָא (qara’, 'to call, to proclaim'), צָרַח carries a more intense, sharp, and sometimes almost onomatopoeic nuance, emphasizing the acoustic quality and emotional pitch of the cry. In later Hebrew and cognates in Aramaic and Syriac, the term maintains its association with loud or shrill calls, sometimes taking on the sense of noisy lament or clamor. English translations often render צָרַח as 'cry,' 'shout,' 'roar,' or 'howl,' but these do not always capture the acute sharpness inherent in the Hebrew term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to be clear (in tone, i.e. shrill), i.e. to whoop; cry, roar.
Bantu Hebrew
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צרח (ṣ-r-ḥ) — cry out loudly, shout, utter a piercing or shrill sound
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6877 | צְרִיחַ | the conspicuous tower |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6873-02 |
יַצְרִ֔יחַ | yatsericha | HVhi3ms |
he-will-roar | he will cause to cry out loudly | 1 |
H6873-01 |
צֹרֵ֖חַ | tsorecha | HVqrmsa |
cries out | the one crying aloud | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6873-02 |
Isaiah 42:13 | יַצְרִ֔יחַ | yatsericha | HVhi3ms |
he-will-roar | he will cause to cry out loudly |
H6873-01 |
Zephaniah 1:14 | צֹרֵ֖חַ | tsorecha | HVqrmsa |
cries out | the one crying aloud |