שִׂיחָה
𐤔𐤉𐤇𐤄
sîychâh
H7881 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Feminine noun denoting 'meditation, reflection, musing,' especially in the sense of inward thought or contemplation, often with an implication of thoughtful prayer or spoken reflection. Depending on context, it may designate silent consideration, private prayer, or reflective discourse, but generally refers to a process of internal or vocal engagement with thoughts, concerns, or questions, especially in relation to the divine.
Semantic Range
meditation, musing, contemplation, reflective prayer, private discourse, thoughtful speech, inward reflection
Root / Etymology
From the root שׂיח (s-y-ch), which conveys the sense 'to muse, ponder, meditate, speak, or complain.' שִׂיחָה is formed as a feminine noun and focuses on the act or result of reflective activity, thought, or discussion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term שִׂיחָה occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Psalm 119:27, 119:97), often associated with personal meditation on the divine teachings or with one's own deep thoughts. It is not a technical term for formal prayer or ritual lament, but rather describes the personal, reflective engagement of the mind and heart. In post-biblical Hebrew, its association with 'prayer' becomes more pronounced, but in the biblical context, its emphasis lies on inner musing or meditation, sometimes extending to private petition. Unlike other terms for prayer (such as תְּפִלָּה, tefillah), שִׂיחָה retains a more contemplative or discursive nuance. Standard English translations vary—'meditation,' 'prayer,' 'reflection'—but no single term fully encompasses its semantic range in Biblical Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of שִׂיחַ; reflection; be extension, devotion; meditation, prayer.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂיח (s-y-ḥ) — to muse, meditate, ponder, discuss, speak
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7808 | שֵׂחַ | his inward meditation |
| H7879 | שִׂיחַ | in my meditation |
| H7880 | שִׂיחַ | the sprouting shrubs |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7881-01 |
שִׂ֣יחָה | sichah | HNcfsa |
meditation | meditative reflection | 2 |
H7881-02 |
שִׂיחָתִֽ/י | sichati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my meditation | my meditation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7881-02 |
Psalms 119:97 | שִׂיחָתִֽ/י | sichati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my meditation | my meditation |
H7881-01 |
Psalms 119:99 | שִׂ֣יחָה | sichah | HNcfsa |
my meditation | meditative reflection |
H7881-01 |
Job 15:4 | שִׂ֝יחָ֗ה | sichah | HNcfsa |
meditation | meditative reflection |