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שִׂיחַ

𐤔𐤉𐤇

sîyach

H7878 verb

SILEX Entry

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

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

Root Family

שׂוּחַ (sîyach) — to meditate, ponder, muse, reflect, converse

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

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7878-02 אָ֝שִׂ֗יחָה asichah HVqi1cs I will meditate let me muse let me muse 7
H7878-06 שִׂ֖יחוּ sichu HVqv2mp talk Meditate! Meditate 3
H7878-08 וְ֝/אָשִׂ֗יחָה veasichah HC/Vqh1cs and-I-will-meditate and let me muse and let me muse 2
H7878-01 אָשִׂ֥יחַ asicha HVqi1cs will meditate I will muse will meditate 1
H7878-03 אֲשׂוֹחֵֽחַ asochecha HVoi1cs I muse I will deeply muse I muse 1
H7878-04 לָ֝/שִׂ֗יחַ lasicha HR/Vqc to meditate to meditate to meditate 1
H7878-05 שִׂ֣יחַ sicha HVqv2ms speak meditation-of meditation of 1
H7878-07 תְשִׂיחֶֽ/ךָ tesichekha HVqi3fs/Sp2ms will talk with you she will meditate with you she will meditate with you 1
H7878-09 יָשִׂ֥יחַ yasicha HVqi3ms meditates he will muse will meditate 1
H7878-10 יָשִׂ֣יחוּ yasichu HVqi3mp speak against me they will muse they speak against 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7878-06 Judges 5:10 שִֽׂיחוּ sichu HVqv2mp tell of it Meditate! Meditate
H7878-11 Isaiah 53:8 יְשׂוֹחֵ֑חַ yesochecha HVpi3ms will speak he will muse aloud will muse aloud
H7878-02 Psalms 55:18 אָשִׂ֣יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I-will-complain let me muse I will muse
H7878-10 Psalms 69:13 יָשִׂ֣יחוּ yasichu HVqi3mp speak against me they will muse they speak against
H7878-02 Psalms 77:4 אָשִׂ֓יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I meditate let me muse I will meditate
H7878-02 Psalms 77:7 אָשִׂ֑יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I meditate let me muse let me muse
H7878-02 Psalms 77:13 אָשִֽׂיחָה asichah HVqh1cs I-will-talk let me muse I will muse
H7878-06 Psalms 105:2 שִׂ֝֗יחוּ sichu HVqv2mp talk of Meditate! Meditate
H7878-02 Psalms 119:15 אָשִׂ֑יחָה asichah HVqh1cs I will meditate let me muse I will meditate
H7878-09 Psalms 119:23 יָשִׂ֥יחַ yasicha HVqi3ms meditates he will muse will meditate
H7878-08 Psalms 119:27 וְ֝/אָשִׂ֗יחָה veasichah HC/Vqh1cs so I will meditate and let me muse and let me muse
H7878-08 Psalms 119:48 וְ/אָשִׂ֥יחָה veasichah HC/Vqh1cs and-I-will-meditate and let me muse and let me muse
H7878-01 Psalms 119:78 אָשִׂ֥יחַ asicha HVqi1cs will meditate I will muse will meditate
H7878-04 Psalms 119:148 לָ֝/שִׂ֗יחַ lasicha HR/Vqc to meditate to meditate to meditate
H7878-03 Psalms 143:5 אֲשׂוֹחֵֽחַ asochecha HVoi1cs I muse I will deeply muse I muse
H7878-02 Psalms 145:5 אָשִֽׂיחָה asichah HVqh1cs I will meditate let me muse let me muse
H7878-07 Proverbs 6:22 תְשִׂיחֶֽ/ךָ tesichekha HVqi3fs/Sp2ms will talk with you she will meditate with you she will meditate with you
H7878-02 Job 7:11 אָ֝שִׂ֗יחָה asichah HVqi1cs I will complain let me muse let me muse
H7878-05 Job 12:8 שִׂ֣יחַ sicha HVqv2ms speak meditation-of meditation of
H7878-06 1 Chronicles 16:9 שִׂ֖יחוּ sichu HVqv2mp talk Meditate! Meditate
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