6874. Tseri

Lexical Summary

Tseri: To bind, to be in distress, to be narrow, to be in trouble

Original Word: צְרִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Tsriy
Pronunciation: tseh-ree
Phonetic Spelling: (tser-ee')
KJV: Zeri
NASB: Zeri
Word Origin: [the same as H6875 (צְּרִי צֳּרִי - balm)]

1. Tseri, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Zeri

The same as tsriy; Tseri, an Israelite -- Zeri. Compare Yitsriy.

see HEBREW tsriy

see HEBREW Yitsriy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as tsori
Definition
an Isr. musician
NASB Translation
Zeri (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

צְרִי proper name, masculine a musician, 1 Chronicles 25:3 (Σ)ουρ(ε)ι, = יִצְרִי (q. v.) 1 Chronicles 25:11 (Ιεσδρει, ᵐ5^L Ασειρηλα).

Topical Lexicon

Identity and Placement

Zeri is named once in Scripture, appearing among the “sons of Jeduthun” in the roster of Temple musicians organized by King David (1 Chronicles 25:3). Jeduthun’s family belonged to the Merarite branch of the Levites, so Zeri stands in the line of those whom the Lord consecrated for sanctuary service (Numbers 3:33-37).

Historical Setting

During David’s reign the worship of YHWH was centralized, ordered, and richly musical. 1 Chronicles 25 lists twenty-four teams who “prophesied with lyres, harps, and cymbals” under the leadership of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. Zeri’s inclusion shows that he lived at a pivotal moment when prophetic song was woven permanently into Israel’s liturgy. This arrangement continued through Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 5:12-14) and was later revived under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:25-30) and Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:15).

Ministry Function

1 Chronicles 25:3 notes that Jeduthun, with his sons, “prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.” In Old Testament usage, “prophesy” can denote Spirit-empowered praise as well as foretelling (1 Samuel 10:5-6). Zeri therefore shared a dual calling:
• Musical skill—mastery of harp and possibly cymbals or lyre.
• Spiritual sensitivity—uttering inspired praise that edified the gathered congregation and exalted God.

Assignment by Lot

Verse 8 explains that the musician-prophets were assigned duties impartially “young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.” Although Zeri’s individual lot number is not recorded, his family received one of the twenty-four slots (25:9-31), ensuring a regular rotation in the daily and festival worship of the Temple.

Theological Significance

1. Prophetic Worship: Zeri embodies the truth that prophetic ministry is not restricted to speech from a pulpit; it can flow through instrumental and vocal praise (Psalm 49:4; Psalm 150).
2. Corporate Edification: By serving in an organized team, he illustrates the New Testament principle that diverse gifts operate for the building up of the body (1 Corinthians 14:26).
3. Intergenerational Service: The phrase “teacher as well as pupil” highlights mentoring within ministry—a pattern mirrored when Levites later trained singers in the days of Ezra (Ezra 3:10-11).

Practical Applications

• Worship leaders today gain precedent for combining musical excellence with dependence on the Holy Spirit.
• Churches can emulate the orderly rotation that allowed sustained, continuous praise without exhausting the servants.
• The text invites believers to view music not merely as accompaniment but as a prophetic avenue through which God addresses His people.

Related References

1 Chronicles 25:1-7; 2 Chronicles 5:12-14; 2 Chronicles 29:25-28; Psalm 33:1-3; Psalm 40:3; Ephesians 5:18-19.

Forms and Transliterations

וּצְרִ֡י וצרי ū·ṣə·rî ūṣərî utzeRi

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 25:3
HEB: יְדוּת֡וּן גְּדַלְיָ֡הוּ וּצְרִ֡י וִֽ֠ישַׁעְיָהוּ חֲשַׁבְיָ֨הוּ
NAS: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah,
KJV: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah,
INT: of Jeduthun Gedaliah Zeri Jeshaiah Hashabiah

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6874
1 Occurrence

ū·ṣə·rî — 1 Occ.