צְרִי
𐤑𐤓𐤉
tsᵉrîy
H6875 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A precious aromatic resin or gum, likely derived from certain trees or shrubs, used in ancient times for medicinal, ritual, and perfumery purposes. The term primarily designates a fragrant resin or balm, especially known for its origin in Gilead and its healing properties. In various contexts, the word can refer more generally to an esteemed healing substance, specifically the resinous exudates collected for their fragrance and therapeutic use.
Semantic Range
aromatic resin, balsam, balm, healing ointment, medicinal gum; precious commodity; export product, valuable healing agent
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. The traditional connection is to an unused root meaning 'to crack' (as by pressure), suggesting the process by which resin exudes from a plant. However, direct evidence for this root in Biblical Hebrew is lacking. The word may be a loan from a related Semitic language or represent an archaic substrate term for aromatic resins.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צְרִי (tsᵉrîy) appears in reference to high-value substances exported from Gilead (e.g., Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 8:22, 46:11). In the Hebrew Bible, it signifies a specific resin used for its medicinal and aromatic qualities, likely the source of the famous phrase 'balm of Gilead.' The identification of צְרִי is debated—possibilities include myrrh, gum mastic, pistacia resin, or another indigenous balsam. Contexts associate it with healing and trade, never as a food item or ritual offering per se. By the Second Temple period and in later tradition, 'balm of Gilead' became a metaphor for healing and restoration. The English 'balm' or 'balsam' approximates the meaning but modern associations (e.g., the New World 'balm') can mislead; the ancient substance was relatively rare and regionally specific. The term should not be confused with שמן (shemen, oil) or מור (mor, myrrh), though all may belong to the wider class of fragrant plant resins.
Translation Consistency
Tsᵉrîy primarily names a fragrant, healing resin—most naturally and familiarly rendered in English as “balm” (e.g., “balm of Gilead”). “Balm” covers the medicinal, perfumed, and valuable aspects of the substance more idiomatically than the adjectival “aromatic” and is more common and natural than the technical “balsam.” Using “balm” yields consistent, readable translations across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or צֳרִי; from an unused root meaning to crack (as by pressure), hence, to leak; distillation, i.e. balsam; balm.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
צרי (Tseruyah) — to press out (juice, oil), to treat with balm, to heal
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6870 | צְרוּיָה | Balsamed One |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6875-02 |
צֳרִי֙ | tsori | HNcmsa |
balm | aromatic resin | balm | 3 |
H6875-01 |
הַ/צֳרִי֙ | hatsori | HTi/Ncmsa |
balm | the aromatic resin | the aromatic resin | 1 |
H6875-03 |
וּ/צְרִ֣י | utseri | HC/Ncmsa |
and balm | and aromatic resin | and balm | 1 |
H6875-04 |
וָ/צֹ֔רִי | vatsori | HC/Ncmsa |
and balm | precious aromatic resin | and precious aromatic resin | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6875-03 |
Genesis 37:25 | וּ/צְרִ֣י | utseri | HC/Ncmsa |
and balm | and aromatic resin | and balm |
H6875-02 |
Genesis 43:11 | צֳרִי֙ | tsori | HNcmsa |
balm | aromatic resin | balm |
H6875-01 |
Jeremiah 8:22 | הַ/צֳרִי֙ | hatsori | HTi/Ncmsa |
balm | the aromatic resin | the aromatic resin |
H6875-02 |
Jeremiah 46:11 | צֳרִ֔י | tsori | HNcmsa |
balm | aromatic resin | balm |
H6875-02 |
Jeremiah 51:8 | צֳרִי֙ | tsori | HNcmsa |
balm | aromatic resin | balm |
H6875-04 |
Ezekiel 27:17 | וָ/צֹ֔רִי | vatsori | HC/Ncmsa |
and balm | precious aromatic resin | and precious aromatic resin |