הַ/מְּצָרִֽים
𐤄/𐤌𐤑𐤓𐤉𐤌
mêtsar
the straits
A place or state of distress, anguish, or constriction; figuratively, severe difficulty or dire circumstance. The term refers literally to a narrow or confined space (a physical strait), and more commonly in figurative extension, to mental or emotional distress—anguish, anxiety, or dire affliction.
Lamentations 1:3 · Word #16
Lexicon H4712
| Lemma | מֵצַר |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤑𐤓 |
| Transliteration | mêtsar |
| Strong's | H4712 |
| Definition | A place or state of distress, anguish, or constriction; figuratively, severe difficulty or dire circumstance. The term refers literally to a narrow or confined space (a physical strait), and more commonly in figurative extension, to mental or emotional distress—anguish, anxiety, or dire affliction. |
Morphology HTd/Ncmpa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | p — Plural — Plural |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | the straits |
SIBI-P1 Translation H4712-02
the narrow places
| Morphological Notes | Masculine plural common noun in the absolute state with definite article (הַ); from מֵצַר. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun מֵצַר derives from the root צר, conveying narrowness or constriction. In the masculine plural with the definite article, it denotes multiple defined states or places characterized by constriction—hence "the narrow places," preserving both the spatial root imagery and the plural form. |
View full lexicon entry for H4712 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
the straits
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | P1 'the narrow places' is literal, but 'the straits' carries the idiomatic and figurative sense of distress or dire circumstance in this context, matching SILEX and common rendering. |