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שִׂיחַ

𐤔𐤉𐤇

sîyach

H7879 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שִׂיחַ to muse, to meditate, to ponder, to utter, to complain

Definition

Sîyach refers primarily to a thought, meditation, or reflection, often with an emphasis on inward contemplation or the act of turning something over in one's mind. In extended uses, it can denote a spoken utterance arising from internal reflection, such as a communication, discussion, complaint, or prayer. In some contexts, sîyach carries the connotation of an anxious complaint or the vocalizing of inner turmoil.

Semantic Range

meditation, inward reflection, speech arising from thought, prayer, complaint, anxious utterance, discussion

Root / Etymology

From the root שִׂיחַ (siakh), meaning 'to muse, ponder, meditate, speak, complain.' The verb indicates the act of intensive, often internal speech or thought. The noun sîyach is a direct derivation referring to the product (thought, utterance, complaint) of that process.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Sîyach occurs relatively infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and most often in poetic or wisdom literature (notably Psalms (e.g., Ps 55:18, 119:27) and Job (e.g., Job 7:13, 9:27)). In these contexts, the term often captures the blurring boundary between internal thought and spoken word—either contemplating silently or voicing prayer, meditation, or complaint. This spectrum is not fully rendered by English terms like 'meditation' or 'complaint,' both of which are narrower than the full scope of sîyach. In the monarchic and exilic periods, the word is typically tied to individual reflection or supplicatory speech before the deity. Comparatively, other Hebrew words for 'speech' (e.g., דָּבָר davar, אֲמִירָה amirah) lack the same emphasis on contemplative or emotional interiority. Later English translations sometimes render sîyach as 'prayer' or 'meditation' or, less precisely, as 'talk' or 'utterance.' In Rabbinic tradition, the term accrued further association with prayer or meditative recitation, but these meanings are secondary developments.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שִׂיחַ; a contemplation; by implication, an utterance; babbling, communication, complaint, meditation, prayer, talk.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׂיח (ś-y-ḥ (sîaḥ)) — musing, meditation, inward reflection, utterance, complaint

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7808 שֵׂחַ his inward meditation
H7880 שִׂיחַ the sprouting shrubs
H7881 שִׂיחָה meditative reflection

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7879-03 שִׂיחִ֛/י sichi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my complaint my meditation 7
H7879-05 בְ/שִׂיחִ֑/י vesichi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my meditation in my meditation 2
H7879-02 שִׂ֧יחַ sicha HNcmsa babbling meditation of 2
H7879-04 שִׂיחֽ/וֹ sicho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his complaint his meditation-utterance 2
H7879-01 בְּ/שִׂיחִ֣/י besichi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in-my-complaint in my meditation 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7879-03 1 Samuel 1:16 שִׂיחִ֛/י sichi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my complaint my meditation
H7879-02 1 Kings 18:27 שִׂ֧יחַ sicha HNcmsa he is musing meditation of
H7879-04 2 Kings 9:11 שִׂיחֽ/וֹ sicho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his talk his meditation-utterance
H7879-01 Psalms 55:3 בְּ/שִׂיחִ֣/י besichi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in-my-complaint in my meditation
H7879-05 Psalms 64:2 בְ/שִׂיחִ֑/י vesichi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my meditation in my meditation
H7879-04 Psalms 102:1 שִׂיחֽ/וֹ sicho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his complaint his meditation-utterance
H7879-03 Psalms 104:34 שִׂיחִ֑/י sichi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my meditation my meditation
H7879-03 Psalms 142:3 שִׂיחִ֑/י sichi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my complaint my meditation
H7879-02 Proverbs 23:29 שִׂ֗יחַ sicha HNcmsa babbling meditation of
H7879-05 Job 7:13 בְ֝/שִׂיחִ֗/י vesichi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs my complaint in my meditation
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