Lexical Summary zeaqah: Cry, Outcry, Cry for help Original Word: זַעַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance crying And (feminine) zoaqah {zeh-aw-kaw'}; from za'aq; a shriek or outcry -- cry(-ing). see HEBREW za'aq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom zaaq Definition a cry, outcry NASB Translation cry (5), cry of distress (2), crying (1), lamentations (1), outcry (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs זְעָקָה noun feminine cry, outcry, absolute ׳ז Jeremiah 18:22 5t.; construct זַעֲקַת Genesis 18:20 3t.; suffix זַעֲקָתִי Job 16:18; זַעֲקָתָם Isaiah 15:5 3t.; — 1 outcry, against, זַעֲקַת ׳סְדֹם וגו Genesis 18:20 (J). 2 cry of distress, concerning something זַעֲקַתשֶֿׁבֶר Isaiah 15:5 (object of יְעֹעֵ֑רוּ; compare בִּבְכִי in prev. clause); absolute Isaiah 15:8 (subject of הִקִּיפָה, "" יְלָלָה); Jeremiah 18:22 (׳תִּשָּׁמַע ז), Jeremiah 20:16; Jeremiah 48:4; Jeremiah 50:46; Nehemiah 5:6; Nehemiah 9:9 (all with שׁמע), Jeremiah 48:34 (jointed with נתן קול), Job 16:18; Esther 9:31 (lamentation), compare Esther 4:1 (גְּדוֺלָה וּמָרָה ׳ז, accusative of congnate meaning with verb with זעק); specifically זעקתדָּֿ֑ל Proverbs 21:13 cry of poor; ׳קול ז Isaiah 65:19 ("" קול בכי), Jeremiah 51:54; Ezekiel 27:28. 3 outcry, clamour זעקת מושׁל בַּכְּסִילִים Ecclesiastes 9:17 (opposed to דברי חכמים בְּנַחַת נשׁמעים). זער (Arabic Topical Lexicon Overview The noun זַעַק appears nineteen times in the Old Testament, always describing a loud, urgent cry that demands a response. Whether issuing from individuals, communities, or entire nations, the word paints a picture of distress brought before the hearing of God and men. Its contexts range from judicial protest to anguished lament and from the pleas of the oppressed to the roar of cities collapsing under divine judgment. Cry of Injustice and Oppression • Genesis 18:20 places the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah before the Lord as legal testimony demanding His intervention: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great indeed, and their sin is exceedingly grievous.” Redemptive Cries Remembered • Nehemiah 9:9 reviews Israel’s story: “You saw the oppression of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry by the Red Sea.” The cry becomes a covenant marker—God is the One who hears and delivers. National Lament under Judgment Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel use the noun to portray whole nations in agony: In each passage, the outcry certifies that judgment has arrived and underscores the sovereignty of God over the nations. Communal Fasting and Intercession Esther introduces a liturgical dimension. Mordecai’s “loud and bitter cry” triggers nationwide fasting (Esther 4:1), while Esther 9:31 records that the feast of Purim preserved both “the fasting and their cry.” The pairing shows that disciplined worship and heartfelt petition belong together in corporate memory. Warnings to Ignore at One’s Peril Ecclesiastes 9:17 contrasts the muted wisdom of the righteous with the “shouts of a ruler among fools.” The soft word is preferable, but when folly prevails the loud protest of the oppressed will follow—often too late for reversal. Divine Response Throughout Scripture the cry is never background noise; it is evidence entered into heaven’s court. The Lord hears (Nehemiah 9:9), pities (Isaiah 30:19; Isaiah 65:19), avenges (Jeremiah 18:22; Jeremiah 20:16), or judges (Jeremiah 48:4, 48:34). The theological constant is that God’s character guarantees a reaction, either in mercy or in wrath. Ethical and Pastoral Implications 1. Listen actively to contemporary “outcries” (poverty, persecution, injustice). Failure to hear places the Church under the warning of Proverbs 21:13. Christological Echoes The loud cry of Job for vindication and the national laments of the prophets foreshadow the climactic “loud cry” of Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:50). There, judgment and deliverance meet; the outcry of sin receives its answer in the atoning work of the Savior, guaranteeing that every righteous cry will ultimately be satisfied. For Ministry Today • Preach: Highlight God’s consistent hearing ear to encourage the suffering. The nineteen occurrences of זַעַק together form a theology of protest and petition that assures God’s people He hears, remembers, and acts—inviting both reverent fear and confident hope. Forms and Transliterations הַזְּעָקָ֖ה הזעקה וְזַעֲקָתָֽם׃ וּזְעָקָ֖ה וזעקה וזעקתם׃ זְּעָקָ֖ה זְעָקָ֖ה זְעָקָ֥ה זְעָקָֽה׃ זְעָקָה֙ זַֽעֲקָתָ֔ם זַעֲקֶ֔ךָ זַעֲקַ֛ת זַעֲקַ֣ת זַעֲקַת־ זַעֲקָתָ֥ם זעקה זעקה׃ זעקך זעקת זעקת־ זעקתם לְזַעֲקָתִֽי׃ לזעקתי׃ מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת מִזַּעֲקַ֨ת מִזַּעֲקַת־ מזעקת מזעקת־ haz·zə·‘ā·qāh hazzə‘āqāh hazzeaKah lə·za·‘ă·qā·ṯî ləza‘ăqāṯî lezaakaTi miz·za·‘ă·qaṯ miz·za·‘ă·qaṯ- mizza‘ăqaṯ mizza‘ăqaṯ- mizzaakat ū·zə·‘ā·qāh ūzə‘āqāh uzeaKah vezaakaTam wə·za·‘ă·qā·ṯām wəza‘ăqāṯām za‘ăqaṯ za‘ăqaṯ- za‘ăqāṯām za‘ăqeḵā za·‘ă·qā·ṯām za·‘ă·qaṯ za·‘ă·qaṯ- za·‘ă·qe·ḵā zaaKat zaakaTam zaaKecha zə‘āqāh zə·‘ā·qāh zeaKahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:20 HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה זַעֲקַ֛ת סְדֹ֥ם וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה NAS: said, The outcry of Sodom KJV: said, Because the cry of Sodom INT: said and the LORD the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah Nehemiah 5:6 Nehemiah 9:9 Esther 4:1 Esther 9:31 Job 16:18 Proverbs 21:13 Ecclesiastes 9:17 Isaiah 15:5 Isaiah 15:8 Isaiah 30:19 Isaiah 65:19 Jeremiah 18:22 Jeremiah 20:16 Jeremiah 48:4 Jeremiah 48:34 Jeremiah 50:46 Jeremiah 51:54 Ezekiel 27:28 19 Occurrences |
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be scanty, of hair, plumage, etc.; Aramaic 
, זְעַר be or grow small; compare צער).