צָעַק (H6817) — Hebrew Lexicon

צָעַק

𐤑𐤏𐤒

tsâʻaq

H6817 verb

SILEX Entry

Root צעק to cry out, to call loudly, to summon for help or justice

Definition

To cry out loudly, to call or shout for help or attention, especially in situations of distress, grievance, or urgency. Tsâʻaq primarily denotes a vocal utterance driven by intense emotional states, most often associated with distress, oppression, or appeal for justice. The word is used for individuals, groups, or even metaphorically for the land itself, expressing a need or demand for response. It may occasionally extend to the calling together of an assembly, but the core sense is overwhelmingly that of a loud, urgent cry.

Semantic Range

to cry out in distress, to shout or yell, to call loudly for help, to proclaim or call an assembly, to raise an urgent outcry, to appeal for intervention

Root / Etymology

Root: צעק. Derived from the root meaning 'to cry out/loudly call.' The root conveys the act of raising one’s voice in distress, complaint, or summons, frequently seeking intervention from a human authority or from God. No evidence of related non-Semitic roots; usage is well-attested in Hebrew and cognate Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Tsâʻaq appears frequently in narrative and poetic contexts depicting individuals or communities experiencing suffering, injustice, or threat. It is often used to describe the Israelites' cries during bondage in Egypt, appeals to God in times of crisis, and outcries against societal wrongdoing. In some cases, the term is applied metaphorically to the 'cry' of the oppressed rising up to heaven or the land 'crying out' because of bloodshed or injustice. The word differs from similar verbs such as זָעַק (zaʻaq, 'to cry out'), which also denote crying or shouting but may emphasize shock or panic, whereas צָעַק places stronger stress on intensity and the quest for response or intervention. In later Hebrew, צעק retains these senses and continues to connote an outcry or protest. Standard English translations such as 'cry out', 'call for help', or 'shout' capture the basic sense but sometimes risk dulling the urgency, distress, or context-driven specificity of the Hebrew term. In legal or prophetic contexts, the word may highlight social justice issues (the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah, or widows and orphans). Use as 'proclaim an assembly' is rare and context-dependent, more commonly meaning 'raise a loud call' to gather attention.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly); [idiom] at all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צעק (ts-ʿ-q) — to cry out, to call loudly, to summon for help or justice

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H6818	צַעֲקָה	according to her outcry

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6817-20`	וַ/יִּצְעַ֣ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and cried out	and he cried out	8
`H6817-21`	וַ/יִּצְעֲק֥וּ	vayitseaqu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they cried out	and they cried out loudly	7
`H6817-24`	יִצְעַק֙	yitseaq	`HVqi3ms`	he cries out	he cries out	4
`H6817-07`	צָעֲקָ֣ה	tsaaqah	`HVqp3fs`	cried out	she cried out	4
`H6817-09`	צָעָ֗קוּ	tsaaqu	`HVqp3cp`	cried out	they cried out	3
`H6817-18`	וַ/יִּצָּֽעֲקוּ֙	vayitsaaqu	`HC/VNw3mp`	and were gathered	and they cried out	3
`H6817-19`	וַ/יִּצָּעֵ֧ק	vayitsaeq	`HC/VNw3ms`	and-they-were-called	and he cried out	3
`H6817-25`	יִצְעֲק֤וּ	yitseaqu	`HVqi3mp`	they cried out	they cry out	3
`H6817-06`	צָעַ֣ק	tsaaq	`HVqp3ms`	cried out	he cried out	2
`H6817-15`	וַ/נִּצְעַ֤ק	vanitseaq	`HC/Vqw1cp`	and we cried out	and we cried out	2
`H6817-12`	צֹעֲקִ֥ים	tsoaqim	`HVqrmpa`	cry out	those crying out	2
`H6817-04`	תִּצְעַ֖ק	titseaq	`HVqi2ms`	are you crying out	you cry out	1
`H6817-23`	וְ/צַֽעֲקִי֙	vetsaaqi	`HC/Vqv2fs`	and cry out	and cry out!	1
`H6817-14`	וּֽ/צְעָ֔קִי	utseaqi	`HC/Vqv2fs`	and cry out	And cry out!	1
`H6817-16`	וַ/תִּצְעֲק֣וּ	vatitseaqu	`HC/Vqw2mp`	and you cried out	and you all cried out	1
`H6817-01`	אֶצְעַ֣ק	etseaq	`HVqi1cs`	I cry out	I cry out	1
`H6817-11`	צְעַקְנָה֮	tseaqenah	`HVqv2fp`	cry out	Cry out!	1
`H6817-22`	וְ/אֶצְעָ֑קָה	veetseaqah	`HC/Vqh1cs`	and-I-cry-out	and let me cry out	1
`H6817-08`	צָעַ֖קְתִּי	tsaaqeti	`HVqp1cs`	I cried out	I cried out	1
`H6817-17`	וַ/יַּצְעֵ֤ק	vayatseeq	`HC/Vhw3ms`	called	he caused an outcry	1
`H6817-03`	מְצַעֵק֙	metsaeq	`HVprmsa`	crying-out	the loud-crying one	1
`H6817-13`	צֹעֶ֣קֶת	tsoeqet	`HVqrfsa`	was appealing	crying-out one	1
`H6817-05`	תִּצְעֲקוּ֙	titseaqu	`HVqi2mp`	shall cry out	you will cry out	1
`H6817-10`	צָעֹ֤ק	tsaoq	`HVqa`	he cries out	crying out loudly	1
`H6817-02`	לִ/צְעֹ֣ק	litseoq	`HR/Vqc`	to cry	to cry out loudly	1

Occurrences in Scripture

55 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6817-12`	Genesis 4:10	צֹעֲקִ֥ים	tsoaqim	`HVqrmpa`	is crying out	those crying out
`H6817-20`	Genesis 27:34	וַ/יִּצְעַ֣ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	he cried out	and he cried out
`H6817-20`	Genesis 41:55	וַ/יִּצְעַ֥ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	cried out	and he cried out
`H6817-12`	Exodus 5:8	צֹֽעֲקִים֙	tsoaqim	`HVqrmpa`	cry out	those crying out
`H6817-21`	Exodus 5:15	וַ/יִּצְעֲק֥וּ	vayitseaqu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and cried out	and they cried out loudly
`H6817-20`	Exodus 8:8	וַ/יִּצְעַ֤ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and cried out	and he cried out
`H6817-21`	Exodus 14:10	וַ/יִּצְעֲק֥וּ	vayitseaqu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they cried out	and they cried out loudly
`H6817-04`	Exodus 14:15	תִּצְעַ֖ק	titseaq	`HVqi2ms`	are you crying out	you cry out
`H6817-20`	Exodus 15:25	וַ/יִּצְעַ֣ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he cried out	and he cried out
`H6817-20`	Exodus 17:4	וַ/יִּצְעַ֤ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and Moses cried out	and he cried out
`H6817-10`	Exodus 22:22	צָעֹ֤ק	tsaoq	`HVqa`	he cries out	crying out loudly
`H6817-24`	Exodus 22:22	יִצְעַק֙	yitseaq	`HVqi3ms`	he cries out	he cries out
`H6817-24`	Exodus 22:26	יִצְעַ֣ק	yitseaq	`HVqi3ms`	he cries out	he cries out
`H6817-20`	Numbers 11:2	וַ/יִּצְעַ֥ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and cried out	and he cried out
`H6817-20`	Numbers 12:13	וַ/יִּצְעַ֣ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and cried out	and he cried out
`H6817-15`	Numbers 20:16	וַ/נִּצְעַ֤ק	vanitseaq	`HC/Vqw1cp`	and we cried out	and we cried out
`H6817-07`	Deuteronomy 22:24	צָעֲקָ֣ה	tsaaqah	`HVqp3fs`	she cried out	she cried out
`H6817-07`	Deuteronomy 22:27	צָעֲקָ֗ה	tsaaqah	`HVqp3fs`	she cried	she cried out
`H6817-15`	Deuteronomy 26:7	וַ/נִּצְעַ֕ק	vanitseaq	`HC/Vqw1cp`	and we cried out	and we cried out
`H6817-21`	Joshua 24:7	וַ/יִּצְעֲק֣וּ	vayitseaqu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they cried out	and they cried out loudly
`H6817-21`	Judges 4:3	וַ/יִּצְעֲק֥וּ	vayitseaqu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and cried out	and they cried out loudly
`H6817-19`	Judges 7:23	וַ/יִּצָּעֵ֧ק	vayitsaeq	`HC/VNw3ms`	were called out	and he cried out
`H6817-19`	Judges 7:24	וַ/יִּצָּעֵ֞ק	vayitsaeq	`HC/VNw3ms`	and-they-were-called	and he cried out
`H6817-16`	Judges 10:12	וַ/תִּצְעֲק֣וּ	vatitseaqu	`HC/Vqw2mp`	and you cried out	and you all cried out
`H6817-18`	Judges 10:17	וַ/יִּצָּֽעֲקוּ֙	vayitsaaqu	`HC/VNw3mp`	and were gathered	and they cried out
`H6817-19`	Judges 12:1	וַ/יִּצָּעֵק֙	vayitsaeq	`HC/VNw3ms`	and were gathered	and he cried out
`H6817-17`	1 Samuel 10:17	וַ/יַּצְעֵ֤ק	vayatseeq	`HC/Vhw3ms`	called	he caused an outcry
`H6817-18`	1 Samuel 13:4	וַ/יִּצָּעֲק֥וּ	vayitsaaqu	`HC/VNw3mp`	and were summoned	and they cried out
`H6817-06`	1 Kings 20:39	צָעַ֣ק	tsaaq	`HVqp3ms`	cried out	he cried out
`H6817-03`	2 Kings 2:12	מְצַעֵק֙	metsaeq	`HVprmsa`	crying-out	the loud-crying one
`H6817-18`	2 Kings 3:21	וַ/יִּצָּעֲק֗וּ	vayitsaaqu	`HC/VNw3mp`	they were summoned	and they cried out
`H6817-07`	2 Kings 4:1	צָעֲקָ֨ה	tsaaqah	`HVqp3fs`	cried out	she cried out
`H6817-09`	2 Kings 4:40	צָעָ֗קוּ	tsaaqu	`HVqp3cp`	cried out	they cried out
`H6817-20`	2 Kings 6:5	וַ/יִּצְעַ֥ק	vayitseaq	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he cried out	and he cried out
`H6817-07`	2 Kings 6:26	צָעֲקָ֤ה	tsaaqah	`HVqp3fs`	cried out	she cried out
`H6817-02`	2 Kings 8:3	לִ/צְעֹ֣ק	litseoq	`HR/Vqc`	to cry	to cry out loudly
`H6817-13`	2 Kings 8:5	צֹעֶ֣קֶת	tsoeqet	`HVqrfsa`	was appealing	crying-out one
`H6817-25`	Isaiah 19:20	יִצְעֲק֤וּ	yitseaqu	`HVqi3mp`	they will cry out	they cry out
`H6817-09`	Isaiah 33:7	צָעֲק֖וּ	tsaaqu	`HVqp3cp`	cry out	they cried out
`H6817-24`	Isaiah 42:2	יִצְעַ֖ק	yitseaq	`HVqi3ms`	he will cry out	he cries out
`H6817-24`	Isaiah 46:7	יִצְעַ֤ק	yitseaq	`HVqi3ms`	one cries out	he cries out
`H6817-05`	Isaiah 65:14	תִּצְעֲקוּ֙	titseaqu	`HVqi2mp`	shall cry out	you will cry out
`H6817-14`	Jeremiah 22:20	וּֽ/צְעָ֔קִי	utseaqi	`HC/Vqv2fs`	and cry out	And cry out!
`H6817-23`	Jeremiah 22:20	וְ/צַֽעֲקִי֙	vetsaaqi	`HC/Vqv2fs`	and cry out	and cry out!
`H6817-11`	Jeremiah 49:3	צְעַקְנָה֮	tseaqenah	`HVqv2fp`	cry out	Cry out!
`H6817-09`	Psalms 34:18	צָעֲק֣וּ	tsaaqu	`HVqp3cp`	cried out	they cried out
`H6817-22`	Psalms 77:2	וְ/אֶצְעָ֑קָה	veetseaqah	`HC/Vqh1cs`	and-I-cry-out	and let me cry out
`H6817-08`	Psalms 88:2	צָעַ֖קְתִּי	tsaaqeti	`HVqp1cs`	I cried out	I cried out
`H6817-21`	Psalms 107:6	וַ/יִּצְעֲק֣וּ	vayitseaqu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	then they cried out	and they cried out loudly
`H6817-21`	Psalms 107:28	וַ/יִּצְעֲק֣וּ	vayitseaqu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	they cried out	and they cried out loudly
`H6817-01`	Job 19:7	אֶצְעַ֣ק	etseaq	`HVqi1cs`	I cry out	I cry out
`H6817-25`	Job 35:12	יִ֭צְעֲקוּ	yitseaqu	`HVqi3mp`	they cry out	they cry out
`H6817-06`	Lamentations 2:18	צָעַ֥ק	tsaaq	`HVqp3ms`	Cry out	he cried out
`H6817-25`	Nehemiah 9:27	יִצְעֲק֣וּ	yitseaqu	`HVqi3mp`	they cried out	they cry out
`H6817-21`	2 Chronicles 13:14	וַֽ/יִּצְעֲק֖וּ	vayitseaqu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they cried out	and they cried out loudly

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