צִמְאָה
𐤑𐤌𐤀𐤄
tsimʼâh
H6773 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Thirst, a physical sensation of needing or longing for water; by extension, a state of strong yearning or acute need, particularly for water, but sometimes used metaphorically to describe intense longing or desire for relief or sustenance.
Semantic Range
physical thirst, need or desire for water, deprivation of water, intense longing or yearning (especially for God or relief in figurative/poetic contexts)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root צָמֵא (צמא), meaning 'to thirst' or 'to be thirsty.' The word צִמְאָה is the feminine noun form, representing the state or condition of thirst. This derivation is common for forming nouns of state or quality from verbal roots in Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, צִמְאָה most commonly refers to literal physical thirst, especially in narratives involving desert journeys, scarcity of water, or descriptions of hardship. It can appear alongside hunger (רָעָב) to describe deprivation (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:48). In poetic and prophetic literature, צִמְאָה can also be used figuratively to express an intense longing or deep need, not only for water but for spiritual fulfillment or divine intervention (e.g., Psalms 63:2). Unlike English, where 'thirst' may have broad metaphorical usage, biblical Hebrew employs צִמְאָה most often for actual thirst, with metaphorical extensions appearing mainly in poetry. The Strong's gloss 'libidinousness' is uncommon and not reflected in standard lexicographical works or primary biblical occurrences. Later Jewish and Christian translations sometimes render the term generically as 'thirst,' not always capturing its emotional depth in figurative passages. The underlying root is also found in other Semitic languages with a similar meaning, solidifying its core semantic field as physical thirst.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of צָמָא; thirst (figuratively, of libidinousnes); thirst.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צמא (ts-m-ʾ) — to thirst, to be thirsty, to long for water
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6770 | צָמֵא | you will thirst |
| H6771 | צָמֵא | the thirsty one |
| H6772 | צָמָא | in the thirst |
| H6774 | צִמָּאוֹן | to a thirsty wasteland |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6773-01 |
מִ/צִּמְאָ֑ה | mitsimeah | HR/Ncfsa |
from thirst | from thirst | from thirst | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6773-01 |
Jeremiah 2:25 | מִ/צִּמְאָ֑ה | mitsimeah | HR/Ncfsa |
from thirst | from thirst | from thirst |