← H6817 H6819 →

צַעֲקָה

𐤑𐤏𐤒𐤄

tsaʻăqâh

H6818 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צעק to cry out, to shout, to call loudly

Definition

A loud, often urgent vocal expression of distress, appeal, or lament. The term denotes a cry or outcry made in times of trouble, calling for help, protesting injustice, or expressing lamentation, and sometimes in ritual or collective settings. The intensity and public nature of the sound is emphasized.

Semantic Range

cry, outcry, cry for help, clamorous complaint, expression of distress, lament, shouted appeal, formal denunciation

Root / Etymology

From the root צעק (tsaʿaq), which means 'to cry out, call loudly, shout.' The noun form צַעֲקָה (tsaʿăqâh) is derived from this root, signifying the result or the act of crying out.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צַעֲקָה is used extensively in the Hebrew Bible to denote a wide range of cries—from individuals beseeching rescue in moments of acute distress (e.g., physical danger, oppression, or need), to collective denunciations of injustice or crisis within the community. The term often carries the connotation of a vocal appeal that expects or demands a response—either from other people (including authorities, kin, or the community) or from YHWH. In narrative and poetic contexts, a צַעֲקָה can initiate divine intervention or signal human suffering; it is prominent in legal and prophetic passages, where cries against social wrongs or in judicial contexts seek redress. While English translations frequently render צַעֲקָה as 'cry,' 'outcry,' or 'cry for help,' these do not always convey the urgency and sometimes communal dimension found in biblical usage. The term is distinct from זעקה (zaʿăqâh), which also denotes a cry but sometimes focuses more on the act of summoning aid or calling out distress. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, צַעֲקָה can have legal and ritual shades, denoting formal denunciations or ritual laments.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָעַק; a shriek; cry(-ing).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

צעק (ts-ʿ-q) — cry out, shout, call loudly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6817 צָעַק I cry out

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6818-07 צְעָקָ֔ה tseaqah HNcfsa a cry loud outcry 7
H6818-04 צַעֲקַ֥ת tsaaqat HNcfsc cry outcry of 6
H6818-06 צַעֲקָתֽ/וֹ tsaaqato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his cry his outcry 2
H6818-05 צַעֲקָתָ/ם֙ tsaaqatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their cry their outcry 2
H6818-08 וְ/צַעֲקַ֖ת vetsaaqat HC/Ncfsc and cry and outcry of 1
H6818-02 הַֽ֭/צַעֲקָת/וֹ hatsaaqato HTi/Ncfsc/Sp3ms his cry his outcry 1
H6818-01 הַ/כְּ/צַעֲקָתָ֛/הּ haketsaaqatah HTi/R/Ncfsc/Sp3fs according to its cry according to her outcry 1
H6818-03 הַ/צְּעָקָ֔ה hatseaqah HTd/Ncfsa of the outcry the outcry 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6818-01 Genesis 18:21 הַ/כְּ/צַעֲקָתָ֛/הּ haketsaaqatah HTi/R/Ncfsc/Sp3fs according to its cry according to her outcry
H6818-05 Genesis 19:13 צַעֲקָתָ/ם֙ tsaaqatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their outcry their outcry
H6818-07 Genesis 27:34 צְעָקָ֔ה tseaqah HNcfsa a cry loud outcry
H6818-05 Exodus 3:7 צַעֲקָתָ֤/ם tsaaqatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their cry their outcry
H6818-04 Exodus 3:9 צַעֲקַ֥ת tsaaqat HNcfsc the cry of outcry of
H6818-07 Exodus 11:6 צְעָקָ֥ה tseaqah HNcfsa a cry loud outcry
H6818-07 Exodus 12:30 צְעָקָ֥ה tseaqah HNcfsa a great cry loud outcry
H6818-06 Exodus 22:22 צַעֲקָתֽ/וֹ tsaaqato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his cry his outcry
H6818-03 1 Samuel 4:14 הַ/צְּעָקָ֔ה hatseaqah HTd/Ncfsa of the outcry the outcry
H6818-06 1 Samuel 9:16 צַעֲקָת֖/וֹ tsaaqato HNcfsc/Sp3ms their cry his outcry
← H6817 Hebrew Lexicon H6819 →