צְרִיחַ
𐤑𐤓𐤉𐤇
tsᵉrîyach
H6877 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A structure serving as a fortified place, specifically a tower or stronghold, often associated with city defenses or elevated lookouts. The term focuses on an elevated, conspicuous position, typically a conspicuous defense point in fortifications.
Semantic Range
tower, citadel, fortified lookout, high defensive structure; by extension, a conspicuous or prominent defensive position
Root / Etymology
From the root צָרַח (ṣāraḥ), which in its verbal form means 'to cry out' or 'to call aloud,' but here appears to be employed metonymically in the nominal form to denote something conspicuous or commanding attention—in this case, a prominent tower or stronghold. The connection between the root and the noun may rest on the idea of something that stands out or is clearly seen (i.e., a lookout point or conspicuous elevation).
Historical & Contextual Notes
צְרִיחַ is attested only a handful of times in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Isaiah 33:20; Jeremiah 6:27), typically in contexts referring to defensive military structures, such as watchtowers or citadels. The term sometimes contrasts with other words for fortification (e.g., מִגְדָּל 'tower', בִּירָה 'citadel'), with צְרִיחַ emphasizing the aspect of height and conspicuousness. While some ancient translations and later English Bibles rendered the word as 'high place' or 'hold,' these terms do not capture the sense of a physically elevated defensive structure integral to urban fortifications in Iron Age Israelite cities. Over time, the word does not appear frequently in post-biblical Hebrew, and its nuance as a specifically conspicuous or visually prominent structure is lost in many translations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָרַח in the sense of clearness of vision; a citadel; high place, hold.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צרח (ṣ-r-ḥ) — to cry out, to call aloud, to be conspicuous
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6873 | צָרַח | the one crying aloud |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6877-01 |
הַ/צְּרִ֔יחַ | hatsericha | HTd/Ncmsa |
the stronghold | the conspicuous tower | 2 |
H6877-02 |
צְרִ֔יחַ | tsericha | HNcmsc |
stronghold | conspicuous stronghold of | 1 |
H6877-03 |
וּ/בַ/צְּרִחִ֖ים | uvatserichim | HC/Rd/Ncmpa |
and in tombs | and in fortified towers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6877-02 |
Judges 9:46 | צְרִ֔יחַ | tsericha | HNcmsc |
stronghold | conspicuous stronghold of |
H6877-01 |
Judges 9:49 | הַ/צְּרִ֔יחַ | hatsericha | HTd/Ncmsa |
the stronghold | the conspicuous tower |
H6877-01 |
Judges 9:49 | הַ/צְּרִ֖יחַ | hatsericha-2 | HTd/Ncmsa |
the stronghold | the conspicuous tower |
H6877-03 |
1 Samuel 13:6 | וּ/בַ/צְּרִחִ֖ים | uvatserichim | HC/Rd/Ncmpa |
and in tombs | and in fortified towers |