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צָמֵא

𐤑𐤌𐤀

tsâmêʼ

H6770 verb

SILEX Entry

Root צמא to thirst, to long for, to feel dehydration

Definition

To experience a physical sensation of thirst or dehydration; by extension, to desire or long for something, often used metaphorically for spiritual or existential longing. In biblical usage, the primary sense is literal physical thirst or dryness, but it can also represent deep yearning or urgent need.

Semantic Range

to be thirsty, to suffer from thirst, to crave or long for (metaphorically), to express need or yearning (especially for God or righteousness)

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology: From the root צמא, which in its verbal and nominal forms denotes thirst or the state of being parched. The root is generally considered primary (i.e., not clearly derived from a more basic triliteral root), conveying the sense of experiencing or causing thirst.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צָמֵא is mostly used in the Hebrew Bible to express literal thirst or dehydration, particularly in narratives of desert journeys or distress (e.g., Israelites in the wilderness). In some poetic and wisdom literature, it acquires a metaphorical dimension, describing a longing or yearning, especially for God or justice (e.g., Psalms 63:2, 'my soul thirsts for You'). Unlike related Hebrew terms such as רָעֵב (raʿev, to be hungry), צָמֵא specifically references a need for water or refreshment. The English rendering 'thirsty' typically captures the literal sense but may not always convey the intensity or metaphorical depth present in some contexts. In later Hebrew and post-biblical usage, the root retains similar physical and figurative connotations. The term is generally associated with the acute, urgent aspect of need, particularly in contexts where water is scarce or highly valued.

Translation Consistency

primary "thirst" 8 occurrences

"Thirst" is the natural, concise verb that covers the primary literal meaning (to be physically thirsty) and the common metaphorical sense (to long or crave). It matches the majority of existing renderings (thirsted, thirsts) and allows consistent inflection across all forms while remaining idiomatic English.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"thirsty" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to thirst (literally or figuratively); (be a-, suffer) thirst(-y).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צמא (ts-m-ʾ) — to thirst, to long, to feel dehydration

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6771 צָמֵא the thirsty one
H6772 צָמָא in the thirst
H6773 צִמְאָה from thirst
H6774 צִמָּאוֹן to a thirsty wasteland

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6770-05 וַ/יִּצְמָ֨א vayitsema HC/Vqw3ms and he became thirsty and he thirsted and he thirsted 2
H6770-02 צָמְאָ֬ה tsameah HVqp3fs thirsts she thirsted thirsts 2
H6770-08 יִצְמָ֔אוּ yitsemau HVqi3mp they-will-thirst they will thirst they will thirst 1
H6770-04 צָמְא֗וּ tsameu HVqp3cp they-thirsted they thirsted they thirsted 1
H6770-07 וְ/צָמִ֗ת vetsamit HC/Vqq2fs you are thirsty and you thirsted and you are thirsty 1
H6770-01 תִּצְמָ֑אוּ titsemau HVqi2mp will thirst you will thirst you will thirst 1
H6770-06 וַ/יִּצְמָֽאוּ vayitsemau HC/Vqw3mp but they thirst and they thirsted and they thirsted 1
H6770-03 צָמֵ֑אתִי tsameti HVqp1cs I am thirsty I thirsted I am thirsty 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6770-05 Exodus 17:3 וַ/יִּצְמָ֨א vayitsema HC/Vqw3ms and thirsted and he thirsted and it thirsted
H6770-03 Judges 4:19 צָמֵ֑אתִי tsameti HVqp1cs I am thirsty I thirsted I am thirsty
H6770-05 Judges 15:18 וַ/יִּצְמָא֮ vayitsema HC/Vqw3ms and he became thirsty and he thirsted and he thirsted
H6770-04 Isaiah 48:21 צָמְא֗וּ tsameu HVqp3cp they-thirsted they thirsted they thirsted
H6770-08 Isaiah 49:10 יִצְמָ֔אוּ yitsemau HVqi3mp they-will-thirst they will thirst they will thirst
H6770-01 Isaiah 65:13 תִּצְמָ֑אוּ titsemau HVqi2mp will thirst you will thirst you will thirst
H6770-02 Psalms 42:3 צָמְאָ֬ה tsameah HVqp3fs thirsts she thirsted thirsts
H6770-02 Psalms 63:2 צָמְאָ֬ה tsameah HVqp3fs thirsts she thirsted thirsts
H6770-06 Job 24:11 וַ/יִּצְמָֽאוּ vayitsemau HC/Vqw3mp but they thirst and they thirsted and they thirsted
H6770-07 Ruth 2:9 וְ/צָמִ֗ת vetsamit HC/Vqq2fs you are thirsty and you thirsted and you are thirsty
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