Lexical Summary tsayon: Zion Original Word: צִיוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dry place From the same as tsiyah; a desert -- dry place. see HEBREW tsiyah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tsiyyah Definition dryness, parched ground NASB Translation drought (1), dry country (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צָיוֺן noun [masculine] dryness, parched ground (on formation see LagBN 204); — ׳כְּחֹרֶב בְּצ Isaiah 25:5, ׳בְּצ Isaiah 32:2 ("" אֶרֶץ עֲיֵפָה; both in simile). Topical Lexicon Overview The word צִיוֹן (Strong’s Hebrew 6724) denotes a parched, dry, or scorched place. In its two Old Testament appearances—Isaiah 25:5 and Isaiah 32:2—it serves as a vivid picture of lifelessness that longs for relief. Both contexts employ the image to highlight the Lord’s power to transform desolation into refreshment and safety. Occurrences and Contexts • Isaiah 25:5 describes God’s subduing of hostile nations “like heat in a dry land,” portraying His victory as the welcome cooling of oppressive, blistering air. Imagery of Desolation A “dry land” evokes more than simple lack of moisture; it suggests helplessness, vulnerability, and even judgment. Scripture frequently associates dryness with curse (Deuteronomy 28:22), exile (Psalm 63:1), and lifeless ritual (Ezekiel 37:11). By calling attention to such barrenness, the prophets underscore humanity’s inability to secure its own salvation. Divine Intervention and Refreshment In both Isaiah passages the desolate scene is interrupted by God’s gracious provision: Isaiah 25:5—“You silence the uproar of foreigners, like heat in a dry land; like heat under the shade of a cloud, the song of the ruthless is stilled.” Isaiah 32:2—“Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the rain, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shade of a great rock in an exhausted land.” The remedy is not self-generated. Relief arrives through divine action and, ultimately, through the Messiah who embodies shelter, shade, and living water (John 7:37; Revelation 7:16-17). Prophetic and Messianic Significance Isaiah 32 stands in a section that looks forward to the Spirit’s outpouring (Isaiah 32:15) and a reign of righteousness. The dryness motif foreshadows the promise that the coming King will quench spiritual thirst (Isaiah 55:1). By depicting His rule as water in scorched ground, the prophet assures Israel—and all nations—that restoration is secure in God’s covenant faithfulness. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Preaching the Gospel: The motif provides a natural bridge from human emptiness to Christ’s satisfying grace. Summary Strong’s 6724 portrays a land incapable of sustaining life apart from God. In Isaiah, this stark image magnifies the Lord’s saving power: He silences the ruthless, shelters the weary, and floods the wilderness with living streams. The term therefore serves as a reminder that only divine grace turns desolation into abundance, pointing ultimately to Jesus Christ, the source of eternal refreshment. Forms and Transliterations בְּצָי֔וֹן בציון bə·ṣā·yō·wn bəṣāyōwn betzaYonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 25:5 HEB: כְּחֹ֣רֶב בְּצָי֔וֹן שְׁא֥וֹן זָרִ֖ים NAS: Like heat in drought, You subdue KJV: as the heat in a dry place; [even] the heat INT: heat drought the uproar of aliens Isaiah 32:2 2 Occurrences |
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