Lexical Summary tsama: Thirst Original Word: צָמָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thirsty From tsame'; thirst (literally or figuratively) -- thirst(-y). see HEBREW tsame' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsame Definition thirst NASB Translation parched ground (1), thirst (15), thirsty (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צָמָא noun [masculine] thirst; — absolute ׳צ Exodus 17:3 +, suffix צְמָאִי Psalm 69:22, etc.; — Exodus 17:3 (E), Judges 15:18; Hosea 2:5; Amos 8:13; Lamentations 4:4; Nehemiah 9:20; Psalm 69:22; "" רָעָב Isaiah 5:13 (van d. H. צָמָה), Deuteronomy 28:48; Nehemiah 9:15; 2Chronicles 32:11; of wild asses Psalm 104:11, of fish ׳וְתָמֹת בַּצּ Isaiah 50:2, but read perhaps (or בַּצְּמֵאָה) וּבְהֶמְתָּם בַּצָּמֵא GunkSchöpf. 98 CheHpt Marti (compare Isaiah 44:3 below following); figurative of grief of exile Isaiah 41:17, compare אֶרֶץ צִיָּה וְצָמָא Ezekiel 19:13; with ל, thirst for water Amos 8:11. — ׳בַּצּ Jeremiah 48:18 is probably corrupt; read perhaps לָאָרֶץ (Gie), or בֶּעָפָר. Topical Lexicon Overview צָמָא (tsā·mā’) expresses the condition of thirst or parching. Across its seventeen occurrences the word moves from a straightforward description of bodily need to a rich theological image of judgment, dependence, and longing for God. Bodily Thirst and Human Dependence The first mention sets the pattern: “the people thirsted there for water” (Exodus 17:3). In the wilderness Israel discovers that physical sustenance is entirely at the Lord’s disposal. The same lesson returns in Judges 15:18 when Samson “became very thirsty and cried out to the LORD,” and in Nehemiah 9:15, 20 where God repeatedly answers Israel’s thirst with water from the rock. Thirst therefore highlights humanity’s inability to secure even the most basic necessities apart from divine mercy. Covenant Curses and National Judgment Under the covenant, unrelieved thirst becomes a sign that the blessings of obedience have been forfeited. Deuteronomy 28:48 warns that Israel will “serve your enemies… in hunger and thirst” if she rebels. Prophets pick up the theme: “My people will go into exile… the masses will be parched with thirst” (Isaiah 5:13); “lovely young women and strong young men will faint from thirst” (Amos 8:13). The siege rhetoric of Sennacherib (“to die by famine and thirst,” 2 Chronicles 32:11) and the devastation of Moab (“sit on parched ground,” Jeremiah 48:18) illustrate how literal thirst accompanies covenantal judgment in history. Divine Provision and Restoration God’s character is displayed by relief of thirst. Psalm 104:11 celebrates creation’s daily refreshment: “the wild donkeys quench their thirst.” Even in dire prophetic contexts, mercy breaks through: “The poor and needy seek water… I, the LORD, will answer them” (Isaiah 41:17). The promise anticipates messianic fulfillment when “they will neither hunger nor thirst” (Isaiah 49:10) and points toward the consummate satisfaction offered in Jesus Christ (John 7:37–38). Spiritual Thirst: Famine of the Word Amos 8:11–13 shifts the image from water to revelation: “I will send a famine… not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the LORD.” Physical thirst thus becomes a metaphor for the soul’s need of God’s voice. When that word is withheld, society staggers as surely as a body dying of dehydration. Messianic Echoes Psalm 69:21, “They… gave me vinegar to quench my thirst,” is cited in the passion narrative (John 19:28–29). The righteous sufferer’s unrelieved thirst culminates in the crucifixion, where Jesus identifies with humanity’s curse (Galatians 3:13) so that living water might flow to all who believe. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and discipleship must recognize both dimensions of צָמָא: address temporal needs while directing people to Christ, the ultimate source of satisfaction. Summary צָמָא spans Israel’s wilderness wanderings, covenant sanctions, prophetic warnings, and messianic fulfillment. Physical thirst exposes human frailty; spiritual thirst exposes the heart’s need for God. The Lord both judges and restores through this motif, finally satisfying the parched in Christ, “the fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 17:13). Forms and Transliterations בַּצָּמָ֑א בַּצָּמָ֔א בַּצָּמָ֣א בַּצָּמָֽא׃ בַצָּמָ֔א בצמא בצמא׃ וְ֝לִצְמָאִ֗י וְצָמָֽא׃ וּבְצָמָ֖א וּבְצָמָ֛א ובצמא ולצמאי וצמא׃ לִצְמָאָ֑ם לִצְמָאָֽם׃ לצמאם לצמאם׃ צְמָאָֽם׃ צָמָ֣א צָמָֽא׃ צמא צמא׃ צמאם׃ baṣ·ṣā·mā ḇaṣ·ṣā·mā baṣṣāmā ḇaṣṣāmā batztzaMa liṣ·mā·’ām liṣmā’ām litzmaAm ṣā·mā ṣāmā ṣə·mā·’ām ṣəmā’ām tzaMa tzemaAm ū·ḇə·ṣā·mā ūḇəṣāmā uvetzaMa vatztzaMa velitzmaI vetzaMa wə·liṣ·mā·’î wə·ṣā·mā wəliṣmā’î wəṣāmāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 17:3 HEB: וְאֶת־ מִקְנַ֖י בַּצָּמָֽא׃ NAS: and our livestock with thirst? KJV: and our cattle with thirst? INT: and our children and our livestock thirst Deuteronomy 28:48 Judges 15:18 2 Chronicles 32:11 Nehemiah 9:15 Nehemiah 9:20 Psalm 69:21 Psalm 104:11 Isaiah 5:13 Isaiah 41:17 Isaiah 50:2 Jeremiah 48:18 Lamentations 4:4 Ezekiel 19:13 Hosea 2:3 Amos 8:11 Amos 8:13 17 Occurrences |
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