### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **zaʻaq**, represented by `{{H2201}}`, denotes a **shriek or outcry**. It is derived from the verb `{{H2199}}` and appears **18 times** across **18 unique verses**. This term is not a mere sound but a potent expression of acute distress, anguish, or urgent alarm, often in response to severe injustice or danger.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H2201}}` signifies a cry that demands attention and often elicits a divine response. The "great" cry of Sodom and Gomorrah rose up due to their "very grievous" sin [[Genesis 18:20]]. It captures profound personal and communal grief, as when Mordecai let out a "loud and a bitter cry" [[Esther 4:1]]. The word is also used prophetically to announce impending doom, such as the "cry from Babylon" that signals "great destruction" [[Jeremiah 51:54]]. Furthermore, it represents the plea of the oppressed that God hears, as He heard the Israelites' cry by the Red Sea [[Nehemiah 9:9]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the context and intensity of `{{H2201}}`:
* `{{H2199}}` **zâʻaq**: As the primitive root, this verb means "to shriek (from anguish or danger)". It is the action that produces the noun, as seen when Mordecai "cried" `{{H2199}}` with a great "cry" `{{H2201}}` [[Esther 4:1]].
* `{{H8085}}` **shâmaʻ**: This verb, meaning "to hear intelligently", is frequently paired with the outcry. A cry is made to be "heard," whether by God [[Nehemiah 9:9]], as a warning of attack [[Jeremiah 18:22]], or in judgment [[Jeremiah 48:4]].
* `{{H1419}}` **gâdôwl**: Meaning "great", this adjective often describes the intensity of the cry, such as the "loud" cry of Mordecai [[Esther 4:1]] or the "great" destruction announced by the cry from Babylon [[Jeremiah 51:54]].
* `{{H3215}}` **yᵉlâlâh**: Defined as "a howling", this word appears alongside `{{H2201}}` in the prophecy against Moab, emphasizing the overwhelming sound of grief and destruction [[Isaiah 15:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2201}}` is significant and multifaceted.
* **Cry of Injustice:** The term often functions as an outcry against sin that reaches heaven. The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a catalyst for divine investigation and judgment [[Genesis 18:20]]. The consequences for ignoring the "cry of the poor" underscore its moral importance [[Proverbs 21:13]].
* **Plea for Deliverance:** `{{H2201}}` is the sound of the afflicted appealing to God. He "heardest their cry" in Egypt [[Nehemiah 9:9]], establishing a pattern of divine response to suffering. Job's desperate wish, "let my cry have no place," highlights his fear that his plea for justice will go unheard [[Job 16:18]].
* **Sound of Judgment:** In prophetic warnings, the cry is the audible manifestation of divine judgment. A cry is heard from Babylon at its fall [[Jeremiah 50:46]], and a cry of destruction is raised up in Moab [[Isaiah 15:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2201}}` is far more than a simple utterance. It is a weighted "shriek or outcry" that signifies a critical moment. It conveys the depth of human suffering, from personal grief to national catastrophe ([[Esther 4:1]], [[Jeremiah 51:54]]). Theologically, it acts as a bridge between humanity and God, representing the plea of the oppressed that God hears [[Nehemiah 9:9]], the protest against injustice that He acknowledges [[Genesis 18:20]], and the terrible announcement of judgment He enacts.
TRV