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שִׂיחַ

𐤔𐤉𐤇

sîyach

H7878 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׂוּחַ to meditate, ponder, muse, reflect, converse

Definition

To meditate, ponder, or engage in reflective thought; to express one's thoughts or feelings aloud, particularly in a reflective, contemplative, or plaintive manner. The word encompasses both internal, silent reflection and outward articulation of meditation, complaint, or prayer. Contextually, it can refer to either inward musing or audible utterance, often with a nuance of speaking to oneself or in prayerful complaint.

Semantic Range

to meditate, to reflect inwardly, to muse, to speak or utter (in contemplation or complaint), to pray (especially as reflective communication), to lament, to talk (with oneself, or in the sense of inward communication); in some contexts, to express complaint or distress

Root / Etymology

From the root שׂוּחַ (s-w-ch), which conveys the idea of moving or going to and fro, hence by extension turning things over in the mind (reflection, meditation) or expressing such reflection through spoken words. The lexical form שִׂיחַ derives from this root, emphasizing the activity of inward or outward contemplation and communication.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שִׂיחַ (sîyach) appears in poetic and wisdom literature (e.g., Genesis 24:63; Psalms 55:17), where it conveys a range from silent meditation to spoken prayer or complaint, often directed toward the divine but occasionally with a more general sense of reflective speech. The distinction between inward thought and verbal expression is sometimes blurred, contextually reliant on accompanying verbs or narrative setting. The term can also include lament or complaint, particularly in Psalms and Job, standing in contrast to more formal words for prayer such as תפלה (tefillah) or supplication (תחנה, tachanun). English translations often choose words like 'meditate,' 'muse,' 'complain,' or 'pray,' but none capture the full semantic breadth; 'to converse' or 'utter' may be contextually accurate, but miss the reflexive/introspective character inherent to the term, especially in its early usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud) or (transitively) utter; commune, complain, declare, meditate, muse, pray, speak, talk (with).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׂוח (s-w-ḥ) — to meditate, ponder, muse, reflect, converse

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7742 שׂוּחַ to go about in meditation

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7878-02 אָשִׂ֣יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I will meditate let me muse 7
H7878-06 שִֽׂיחוּ sichu HVqv2mp talk Meditate! 3
H7878-08 וְ֝/אָשִׂ֗יחָה veasichah HC/Vqh1cs and-I-will-meditate and let me muse 2
H7878-11 יְשׂוֹחֵ֑חַ yesochecha HVpi3ms will speak he will muse aloud 1
H7878-09 יָשִׂ֥יחַ yasicha HVqi3ms meditates he will muse 1
H7878-05 שִׂ֣יחַ sicha HVqv2ms speak meditation-of 1
H7878-03 אֲשׂוֹחֵֽחַ asochecha HVoi1cs I muse I will deeply muse 1
H7878-01 אָשִׂ֥יחַ asicha HVqi1cs will meditate I will muse 1
H7878-04 לָ֝/שִׂ֗יחַ lasicha HR/Vqc to meditate to meditate 1
H7878-10 יָשִׂ֣יחוּ yasichu HVqi3mp speak against me they will muse 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7878-06 Judges 5:10 שִֽׂיחוּ sichu HVqv2mp tell of it Meditate!
H7878-11 Isaiah 53:8 יְשׂוֹחֵ֑חַ yesochecha HVpi3ms will speak he will muse aloud
H7878-02 Psalms 55:18 אָשִׂ֣יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I-will-complain let me muse
H7878-10 Psalms 69:13 יָשִׂ֣יחוּ yasichu HVqi3mp speak against me they will muse
H7878-02 Psalms 77:4 אָשִׂ֓יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I meditate let me muse
H7878-02 Psalms 77:7 אָשִׂ֑יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I meditate let me muse
H7878-02 Psalms 77:13 אָשִֽׂיחָה asichah HVqh1cs I-will-talk let me muse
H7878-06 Psalms 105:2 שִׂ֝֗יחוּ sichu HVqv2mp talk of Meditate!
H7878-02 Psalms 119:15 אָשִׂ֑יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I will meditate let me muse
H7878-09 Psalms 119:23 יָשִׂ֥יחַ yasicha HVqi3ms meditates he will muse
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