Lexical Summary tsame: thirsty, dry, thirsts Original Word: צָמֵא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance that thirsts, From tsame'; thirsty (literally or figuratively) -- (that) thirst(-eth, -y). see HEBREW tsame' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsame Definition thirsty NASB Translation dry (1), thirsts (1), thirsty (6), thirsty man (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צָמֵא adjective thirsty; — absolute ׳צ Isaiah 21:14 +; feminine singular צְמֵאָה Deuteronomy 29:18; plural צְמֵאִים Psalm 107:5; — thirsty, usually + (or "") רָעֵב: 2 Samuel 17:29; Proverbs 25:21; Psalm 107:5, as substantive thirsty one Isaiah 29:8; Isaiah 32:6; so also Isaiah 21:14, and (figurative of thirst for ׳יs favour) Isaiah 55:1; צָמֵא Isaiah 44:3 = thirsty land (Gunkl.c. proposes צְמֵאָה); הָרָוָה אֶתהַֿצְּמֵאָה Deuteronomy 29:18 the watered (plant, herbage) with the thirsty, figurative of entire people. Topical Lexicon Central Ideaצָמֵא (tsāmeʾ) portrays the state of being parched, needing water, or, by extension, longing for satisfaction. Scripture uses the word literally for bodily deprivation and figuratively for the soul’s yearning for God. The nine occurrences trace a coherent biblical theology of thirst that moves from covenant warnings to promises of Spirit-empowered refreshment. Covenant Warning and Judgment (Deuteronomy 29:19) Within Moses’ renewal of the covenant, “the watered land as well as the thirsty” are threatened with equal devastation if Israel persists in rebellion. “Thirsty” stands for arid soil—an image of life stripped of divine blessing. The verse teaches that sin dries up even what looks fruitful, underscoring that security apart from obedience is an illusion. Physical Need in National Crisis (2 Samuel 17:29; Psalm 107:5) When David’s band fled Absalom, friends supplied food, “for they said, ‘The people have become hungry, tired, and thirsty in the wilderness’” (2 Samuel 17:29). Likewise, the wilderness wanderers “were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them” (Psalm 107:5). In both passages, thirst highlights human frailty and God’s provision through compassionate agents who anticipate His saving intervention. Ethic of Mercy and Hospitality (Proverbs 25:21; Isaiah 21:14; Isaiah 32:6) The wisdom text commands, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21). Isaiah extends the principle to refugees (“Bring water for the thirsty,” Isaiah 21:14) and indicts social injustice that “withholds drink from the thirsty” (Isaiah 32:6). The obligation to relieve thirst becomes a moral litmus for covenant faithfulness—anticipating Jesus’ commendation, “I was thirsty and you gave Me drink” (Matthew 25:35). Futility of the Godless Dream (Isaiah 29:8) Like a “thirsty man who dreams he is drinking” yet awakes unsatisfied, the nations raging against Zion will find their aspirations evaporating (Isaiah 29:8). Thirst illustrates the empty promises of self-reliance; only the Lord can quench. Promise of the Spirit and Eschatological Fulfilment (Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 55:1) Divine grace reverses the curse: “I will pour water on the thirsty land… I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring” (Isaiah 44:3). The climactic invitation, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1), opens the messianic banquet. New-covenant fulfilment arrives when Jesus cries, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37), echoing Isaiah and identifying Himself as the source of living water (John 4:14). Historical Background In the arid Near Eastern climate, water determined survival, settlement, and warfare. Wells and springs symbolized divine favor; drought and thirst signaled curse. Providing water to travelers was a sacred duty, and withholding it was a grave offense. The biblical writers harness this shared experience to communicate spiritual realities intelligible to every generation. Theological Trajectory 1. Peril of disobedience dries both land and life (Deuteronomy 29). Ministry Application • Encourage believers to cultivate holy longing for God, recognizing that spiritual dryness invites us to seek the Living Water. Representative Cross References Psalm 42:1; Psalm 63:1; John 4:13-14; John 6:35; Revelation 7:16-17; Revelation 22:17. Forms and Transliterations הַצְּמֵאָֽה׃ הַצָּמֵא֙ הצמא הצמאה׃ וְצָמֵ֖א וצמא צְמֵאִ֑ים צָ֝מֵ֗א צָמֵ֔א צָמֵ֖א צָמֵא֙ צמא צמאים haṣ·ṣā·mê haṣ·ṣə·mê·’āh haṣṣāmê haṣṣəmê’āh hatztzaMe hatztzemeAh ṣā·mê ṣāmê ṣə·mê·’îm ṣəmê’îm tzaMe tzemeIm vetzaMe wə·ṣā·mê wəṣāmêLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 29:19 HEB: הָרָוָ֖ה אֶת־ הַצְּמֵאָֽה׃ NAS: the watered [land] with the dry.' KJV: to add drunkenness to thirst: INT: to destroy the watered to thirst 2 Samuel 17:29 Psalm 107:5 Proverbs 25:21 Isaiah 21:14 Isaiah 29:8 Isaiah 32:6 Isaiah 44:3 Isaiah 55:1 9 Occurrences |
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