צְרִי
𐤑𐤓𐤉
Tseri
H6874 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Tsᵉrîy, a personal name referring to an Israelite appearing in genealogies, with the primary lexical meaning as the name of an individual. The meaning of the name itself is uncertain, but it is most likely related to the notion of 'my balsam' or 'my resin,' as suggested by its identical spelling to the noun for 'balsam/resin.'
Semantic Range
personal name (proper noun), my balsam, my resin, individual Benjaminite (in genealogies)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root צרי (צ-ר-י), which refers to balsam, resin, or gum, valued for its fragrance and medicinal properties. The personal name Tsᵉrîy (צְרִי) is identical in spelling to this noun and likely derives from this same concept, possibly meaning 'my balsam.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tsᵉrîy appears as a personal name among the genealogies of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:36). The name is identical in form to the noun denoting balsam or fragrant gum (cf. Genesis 43:11), but in this context it functions strictly as a personal name. This form is rare and no clear significance is given to the choice of the name in the text itself. The use of such a noun as a personal name is not unusual in ancient Israelite naming practices, where botanical and aromatic substances sometimes formed the basis of personal names to convey attributes of value or desirability. The tendency to translate or render the name as 'Zeri' is an attempt at transliteration. The entry is sometimes compared with the name יִצְרִי (Yitzri), but these are distinct names despite possible root or morphological similarity. Tsᵉrîy should not be confused with 'Jew' or with generic tribal identities unless specified by context; in its biblical occurrence it is Benjaminite. Standard English Bibles give only a name without indicating the root meaning, and do not convey the potential nuances in the name's Hebrew origin.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as צְרִי; Tseri, an Israelite; Zeri. Compare יִצְרִי.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צרי (ṣ-r-y) — to press, to extract resin, to produce fragrance
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6874-01 |
וּ/צְרִ֡י | utseri | HC/Np |
and Zeri | and Tsᵉrîy | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6874-01 |
1 Chronicles 25:3 | וּ/צְרִ֡י | utseri | HC/Np |
and Zeri | and Tsᵉrîy |