Lexical Summary siach: meditate, speak, complain Original Word: שִׂיחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance commune, complain, declare, meditate, muse, pray, speak, talk withA primitive root; to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud) or (transitively) utter -- commune, complain, declare, meditate, muse, pray, speak, talk (with). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from siach Definition to muse, complain, talk (of) NASB Translation complain (2), considered (1), meditate (7), meditates (1), muse (2), sigh (1), sing (1), speak (3), talk (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׂיחַ verb denominative muse, complain, in poetry talk (of); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יָשִׂיחַ Psalm 119:23; 3feminine singular suffix תְּשִׂיחֶ֑ךָ Proverbs 6:22; 1singular אָשִׂיחַ Psalm 119:78 +, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שִׂיחַ Job 12:8, masculine plural שִׂיחוּ Judges 5:10 +; Infinitiveconstruct שִׂיחַ Psalm 119:148; — 1 complain: Psalm 55:18; Psalm 77:4 (both "" הָמָה), Job 7:11 (בְּמַר נַפְשִׁי), + Psalm 6:7 (read probably אָשִׁימָה for אַשְׁחֶה). 2 muse: עִםלְֿבָבִי Psalm 77:7; with ב, meditate upon, study, God's עֲלִילוֺת Psalm 77:13 ("" הָגָה); מִּקּוּדִים Psalm 119:15; Psalm 119:78; חֻמִּים Psalm 119:23; Psalm 119:48; נִפְלָאוֺת Psalm 119:27; אִמְרָה Psalm 119:148; with accusative דִּבְרֵי נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ Psalm 145:5. 3. a. talk (about), sing (of): absolute Judges 5:10 (ode); with ב, Psalm 105:2 = 1 Chronicles 16:9 ("" שִׁיר, זִמֵּר; so SS Gerber, but possibly = 2, so Dr), Psalm 69:13 (ב person against; "" נְגִינוֺת, of mocking words). b. with suffix person talk (with) Proverbs 6:22 (strike out Toy); with לְ speak to Job 12:8 (Di 'sprich sinnend'; Hi Bu read שֶׁרֶץ; Kau חַיַּת (so Bu as alternative), Bö and others below II. שִׂיחַ). Pol`el meditate, consider: Imperfect3masculine singular יְשׂוֺחֵחַ Isaiah 53:8 (absolute); 1 singular אֲשׂוֺחֵחַ Psalm 143:5 (ב of thing; "" הָגָה). — Genesis 24:63 see I. שׁוּמ. Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning and Thematic Threads שִׂיחַ moves along a spectrum from inward pondering to outward articulation. It may denote quiet meditation, verbal testimony, complaint born of anguish, or careful consideration. Across its twenty-one appearances, the word consistently links the life of the mind and heart with the tongue, showing that what God stirs within inevitably finds expression before Him and before others. Meditation and Devotional Reflection The Psalter supplies the richest vein of usage. Eight verses in Psalm 119 alone portray meditation on God’s precepts as the steady rhythm of covenant life (Psalm 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 148). “I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways” (Psalm 119:15). Similar language appears in Psalm 77:12; Psalm 143:5; and Psalm 145:5, where reflection on the Lord’s “mighty deeds” fuels worship. Far from passive daydreaming, שִׂיחַ is an active, deliberate engagement with revelation that shapes affections and conduct. Prayer, Lament, and Honest Speech Before God Job presses the term into the service of raw lament. “I will complain in the bitterness of my soul” (Job 7:11). Here שִׂיחַ validates unvarnished prayer; anguish is no barrier to communion. Psalm 55:17 echoes the pattern: “Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.” The same root surfaces when the psalmist groans in Psalm 77:3 and when David confides that slanderous princes cannot silence his meditation (Psalm 119:23). Scripture thus welcomes believers to pour out grief and perplexity without forfeiting reverence. Instruction and Wisdom Formation Proverbs 6:22 pictures parental commandments “speaking” with the disciple at daybreak. Meditation is not merely private piety; it is educational, embedding truth so deeply that it converses with the conscience. In Job 12:8 even the earth is invited to “speak” and instruct, underscoring that all of creation can become a tutor in wisdom when viewed through God’s revelation. Corporate Worship and Historical Remembering Public proclamation stands beside personal reflection. “Sing to Him… tell of all His wonders” (1 Chronicles 16:9; similarly Psalm 105:2). Deborah summons Israel to “consider” after victory (Judges 5:10), transforming national memory into doxology. Meditation therefore ripens into testimony, guarding the community from forgetfulness and transmitting faith to the next generation. Mockery and Misused Speech Psalm 69:12 reveals an ironic twist: “I am the song of drunkards.” Here שִׂיחַ is the whispered ridicule of the ungodly, a reminder that speech, though designed for praise, can be bent toward scorn. The contrast urges saints to steward their words for edification. Messianic and Prophetic Significance Isaiah 53:8 laments that Christ’s contemporaries failed to “recount” His generation, ignoring the import of His suffering. The prophetic rebuke heightens the call to contemplate the Servant’s atoning work and to articulate it faithfully. Meditation that culminates in proclamation is intrinsic to Gospel witness. Practical Ministry Applications • Encourage believers to schedule unhurried intervals of biblical meditation, letting Scripture prompt both silent pondering and spoken prayer. In every context, שִׂיחַ binds thought and speech, inviting God’s people to cultivate hearts that muse on His works and lips that declare them. Forms and Transliterations אֲשׂוֹחֵֽחַ׃ אָ֝שִׂ֗יחָה אָשִֽׂיחָה׃ אָשִׂ֑יחָה אָשִׂ֓יחָה ׀ אָשִׂ֣יחָה אָשִׂ֥יחַ אשוחח׃ אשיח אשיחה אשיחה׃ בְ֝שִׂיחִ֗י בשיחי וְ֝אָשִׂ֗יחָה וְאָשִׂ֥יחָה ואשיחה יְשׂוֹחֵ֑חַ יָשִׂ֣יחוּ יָשִׂ֥יחַ יחו ישוחח ישיח ישיחו לָ֝שִׂ֗יחַ לשיח שִֽׂיחוּ׃ שִׂ֖יחוּ שִׂ֝֗יחוּ שִׂ֣יחַ שיח שיחו שיחו׃ תְשִׂיחֶֽךָ׃ תשיחך׃ ’ā·śî·aḥ ’ā·śî·ḥāh ’ă·śō·w·ḥê·aḥ ’āśîaḥ ’āśîḥāh ’ăśōwḥêaḥ ·ḥū aSiach aSichah asoCheach ḇə·śî·ḥî ḇəśîḥî chu ḥū lā·śî·aḥ laSiach lāśîaḥ śî·aḥ śî·ḥū Siach śîaḥ Sichu śîḥū ṯə·śî·ḥe·ḵā tesiChecha ṯəśîḥeḵā veaSichah vesiChi wə’āśîḥāh wə·’ā·śî·ḥāh yā·śî·aḥ yā·śî·ḥū yaSiach yāśîaḥ yaSichu yāśîḥū yə·śō·w·ḥê·aḥ yesoCheach yəśōwḥêaḥLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 5:10 HEB: עַל־ דֶּ֖רֶךְ שִֽׂיחוּ׃ NAS: And you who travel on the road-- sing! KJV: Speak, ye that ride on white INT: on the road Speak 1 Chronicles 16:9 Job 7:11 Job 7:13 Job 12:8 Psalm 55:17 Psalm 69:12 Psalm 77:3 Psalm 77:6 Psalm 77:12 Psalm 105:2 Psalm 119:15 Psalm 119:23 Psalm 119:27 Psalm 119:48 Psalm 119:78 Psalm 119:148 Psalm 143:5 Psalm 145:5 Proverbs 6:22 Isaiah 53:8 21 Occurrences |
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