צִחֶה
𐤑𐤇𐤄
tsicheh
H6704 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adjective describing something that is dry or parched, especially from heat or lack of moisture. Used to indicate land, ground, or terrain that is withered, desiccated, or scorched, and is thus unsuitable for cultivation or habitation. The term signifies an extreme state of dryness rather than mere absence of water.
Semantic Range
dry, parched, scorched, withered, desolate, desiccated
Root / Etymology
From the root צחה, likely related to the core meaning 'to be parched, parched with heat.' This root appears sparsely and is primarily inferred from this adjective form. It is distinct from more commonly attested roots for 'dry' (such as יבש), and may reflect a particular quality of radiant or sun-scorched dryness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צִחֶה occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in poetic or descriptive passages to highlight the inhospitable condition of terrain (e.g., Jeremiah 50:12). Unlike the more general term for 'dry' (יָבֵשׁ, yavesh), צִחֶה implies arid desolation as a result of intense heat, especially in wilderness or desert imagery. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, other terms become more prominent for 'dry' in everyday usage. Standard English translations often render it as 'parched,' 'dry,' or 'desolate,' but may not capture the intensity of scorched barrenness implied in the original.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to glow; parched; dried up.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צחה (ṣ-ḥ-h) — to be parched, to be scorched with heat
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6727 | צִיחָא | Parched-One |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6704-01 |
צִחֵ֥ה | tsicheh | HAamsc |
parched | sun-scorched | parched | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6704-01 |
Isaiah 5:13 | צִחֵ֥ה | tsicheh | HAamsc |
parched | sun-scorched | parched |