Lexical Summary tsaaq: To cry out, to call for help, to shout Original Word: צָעַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance call together, cry out, gather selves together A primitive root; to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly) -- X at all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to cry, cry out, call NASB Translation appeal (1), appealed (1), called the together (1), cried (27), cries (1), cry (14), cry aloud (1), crying (2), summoned (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs צָעַק verb cry, cry out, call ("" זָעַק; Late Hebrew id.; Arabic  perhaps originally sound as thunder, compare  thunderbolt,  bellow (of bull)); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular׳צ 1 Kings 20:39; Lamentations 2:18, 3feminine singular צָֽעֲקָה Deuteronomy 22:24 +, etc.; Imperfect יִצְעַק Exodus 23:22 +, etc.; Imperative feminine singular וְצַעֲקִי Jeremiah 22:20, וּצֳעָ֑קִי Jeremiah 22:20; feminine plural צְעַקְנָה Jeremiah 49:3; Infinitive absolute צָעֹק Exodus 22:22; construct לִצְעֹק 2 Kings 8:3; Participle feminine singular absolute צֹעֶ֫קֶת 2 Kings 8:5; masculine plural צֹעֲקִים Genesis 4:10; Exodus 5:8; — 1 cry, cry out, for help, usually with אֶל person; — a. unto man Genesis 41:55 (E; + ל of thing), Numbers 11:3 (JE), 1 Kings 20:39; 2 Kings 6:26; 2 Kings 8:3 (+ אֶל of thing), 2 Kings 8:5 (+ עַל of thing); followed by אמר Exodus 5:15 (J), 2 Kings 4:1 and (אֶל person omitted) Exodus 5:8 (J), 2 Kings 4:40; 2 Kings 6:5. b. especially unto ׳י: Genesis 4:10; Exodus 8:8 ( + עַלֿ דְּבַר of thing), Exodus 14:10,15; Exodus 15:25; Exodus 17:4; Exodus 22:22 (צָעֹק יִצְעַק), Exodus 22:26; Numbers 12:13; Numbers 20:16; Joshua 24:7 (all J E), Judges 4:3; Judges 10:12; Deuteronomy 26:7; Isaiah 19:20 (+ מִמְּנֵי of thing), Lamentations 2:18; Nehemiah 9:27; Psalm 107:6; Psalm 107:28; קוֺלִי וְאֶצְעָ֑קָה ׳אֶלאֿ Psalm 77:2, compare Psalm 34:18; with ׳לי2Chronicles 13:14: נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ Psalm 88:2. c. cry unto (אֶל) idol Isaiah 46:7. 2 absolute cry, cry out, in distress, need; — Genesis 27:34 (J; with accusative of congnate meaning with verb), Deuteronomy 22:24,27; Isaiah 33:7 ("" בָּכָה), Isaiah 65:14 ("" הֵילִיל, opposed to רָנַן; with מִן of thing), Jeremiah 22:20 (twice in verse) ("" נָתַן קוֺל), Jeremiah 49:3 ("" הֵילִיל), Job 35:12; with object חָמָס Job 19:7 ("" אֲשַׁוַּע). 3 make outcry, clamour, Isaiah 42:2 (+ יִשָּׂא, יַשְׁמִיעַ קוֺלוֺ ). Niph`al be summoned (i.e. to arms), absolute; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּצָּעֵק Judges 7:23,24; Judges 12:1, Songs 3 masculine plural וַיִּצָּֽעֲקוּ Judges 10:17; 2 Kings 3:21, followed by אַחֲרֵי שָׁאוּל + accusative of location 1 Samuel 13:4. Pi`el Participle מְצַעֵק cry aloud, in grief, 2 Kings 2:12. Hiph`il call together הַמִּצְמָּה ׳וַיַּצְעֵקאֶתהָֿעָם אֶליֿ 1 Samuel 10:17. Topical Lexicon Overview The verb צָעַק (tsaʿaq) signifies an urgent, audible cry that insists on a response. Appearing roughly fifty-five times, it spans contexts of oppression, warfare, intercession, worship, and prophetic judgment, underscoring both human helplessness and divine attentiveness. Cries of Distress under Oppression • Exodus 14:10 – “They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.” These scenes fix the verb to moments when earthly resources fail and appeal to the only Sovereign who can save. Appeals for Divine Intervention Psalm 18:6 captures the template: “In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help, and from His temple He heard my voice.” Similar refrains in Psalm 34:17; Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28; and Jonah 1:14 show a covenant rhythm—cry, hearing, deliverance. Social Injustice and Prophetic Indictment Genesis 18:20; 19:13 speak of the “outcry” of Sodom. Amos 5:12–13 and Isaiah 5:7 confront Israel for ignoring the cries of the oppressed. Here צָעַק becomes forensic evidence in God’s court, proving societal guilt. The Battle Cry 1 Samuel 4:5 – “All Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.” 2 Chronicles 13:14-15 – Judah’s cry is paired with priestly trumpets and divine victory. Judges 7:20 – Gideon’s band cries, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” Such shouts rally troops and invoke God’s name in combat. Liturgical and Devotional Usage Individual worship (Psalm 3:4; 30:2; 86:7) and corporate liturgy (Psalm 118:5; 120:1) employ צָעַק to teach believers that prayer may—and often should—be vocal, urgent, and expectant. Moral and Theological Dimensions 1. God hears (Exodus 2:24; Psalm 34:6). Ultimately the cross magnifies both the anguish (“Jesus cried out with a loud voice,” Matthew 27:46) and the assurance that every righteous cry will be vindicated. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • Encourage candid lament; the Lord “is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). Representative Occurrences Genesis 18:20; 19:13 Judges 3:9; 7:20 1 Samuel 4:5; 7:8-9 Psalm 3:4; 18:6; 34:6; 107:6 Isaiah 19:20; 42:13 Conclusion צָעַק portrays desperate yet faith-filled petition that moves the heart of God. From Israel’s bondage to the psalmists’ prayers and the prophets’ warnings, Scripture invites believers to cry out with confidence that the Lord both hears and acts. Forms and Transliterations אֶצְעַ֣ק אצעק וְאֶצְעָ֑קָה וְצַֽעֲקִי֙ וַֽיִּצְעֲק֖וּ וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ וַיִּצְעַ֣ק וַיִּצְעַ֤ק וַיִּצְעַ֥ק וַיִּצָּֽעֲקוּ֙ וַיִּצָּעֲק֗וּ וַיִּצָּעֲק֥וּ וַיִּצָּעֵ֞ק וַיִּצָּעֵ֧ק וַיִּצָּעֵק֙ וַיַּצְעֵ֤ק וַנִּצְעַ֕ק וַנִּצְעַ֤ק וַתִּצְעֲק֣וּ וּֽצְעָ֔קִי ואצעקה ויצעק ויצעקו ונצעק וצעקי ותצעקו יִ֭צְעֲקוּ יִצְעֲק֣וּ יִצְעֲק֤וּ יִצְעַ֖ק יִצְעַ֣ק יִצְעַ֤ק יִצְעַק֙ יצעק יצעקו לִצְעֹ֣ק לצעק מְצַעֵק֙ מצעק צְעַקְנָה֮ צָעֲק֖וּ צָעֲק֣וּ צָעֲקָ֗ה צָעֲקָ֣ה צָעֲקָ֤ה צָעֲקָ֨ה צָעַ֖קְתִּי צָעַ֣ק צָעַ֥ק צָעָ֗קוּ צָעֹ֤ק צֹֽעֲקִים֙ צֹעֲקִ֥ים צֹעֶ֣קֶת צעק צעקה צעקו צעקים צעקנה צעקת צעקתי תִּצְעֲקוּ֙ תִּצְעַ֖ק תצעק תצעקו ’eṣ‘aq ’eṣ·‘aq etzAk liṣ‘ōq liṣ·‘ōq litzOk mə·ṣa·‘êq məṣa‘êq metzaEk ṣā‘aq ṣā‘ăqāh ṣā‘aqtî ṣā‘ăqū ṣā‘āqū ṣā‘ōq ṣā·‘ă·qāh ṣā·‘ă·qū ṣā·‘ā·qū ṣā·‘aq ṣā·‘aq·tî ṣā·‘ōq ṣə‘aqnāh ṣə·‘aq·nāh ṣō‘ăqîm ṣō‘eqeṯ ṣō·‘ă·qîm ṣō·‘e·qeṯ tiṣ‘aq tiṣ‘ăqū tiṣ·‘ă·qū tiṣ·‘aq titzAk titzaKu tzaAk tzaaKah tzaAkti tzaAku tzaOk tzeakNah tzoaKim tzoEket ū·ṣə·‘ā·qî ūṣə‘āqî utzeAki vaiyatzEk vaiyitzAk vaiyitzaKu vaiyitztzaaKu vaiyitztzaEk vannitzAk vattitzaKu veetzAkah vetzaaKi wan·niṣ·‘aq wanniṣ‘aq wat·tiṣ·‘ă·qū wattiṣ‘ăqū way·yaṣ·‘êq way·yiṣ·‘ă·qū way·yiṣ·‘aq way·yiṣ·ṣā·‘ă·qū way·yiṣ·ṣā·‘êq wayyaṣ‘êq wayyiṣ‘aq wayyiṣ‘ăqū wayyiṣṣā‘ăqū wayyiṣṣā‘êq wə’eṣ‘āqāh wə·’eṣ·‘ā·qāh wə·ṣa·‘ă·qî wəṣa‘ăqî yiṣ‘aq yiṣ‘ăqū yiṣ·‘ă·qū yiṣ·‘aq yitzAk yitzaKuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 4:10 HEB: דְּמֵ֣י אָחִ֔יךָ צֹעֲקִ֥ים אֵלַ֖י מִן־ NAS: blood is crying to Me from the ground. KJV: blood crieth unto me from the ground. INT: blood of your brother's is crying about from Genesis 27:34 Genesis 41:55 Exodus 5:8 Exodus 5:15 Exodus 8:12 Exodus 14:10 Exodus 14:15 Exodus 15:25 Exodus 17:4 Exodus 22:23 Exodus 22:23 Exodus 22:27 Numbers 11:2 Numbers 12:13 Numbers 20:16 Deuteronomy 22:24 Deuteronomy 22:27 Deuteronomy 26:7 Joshua 24:7 Judges 4:3 Judges 7:23 Judges 7:24 Judges 10:12 Judges 10:17 55 Occurrences |
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