English · KJV
H2201

זַעַק

zaʻaq /zah'-ak/ Ask about this word
Rootand (feminine) זְעָקָהxlit zᵉâqâh corrected to zᵉʻâqâh · from זָעַק
Meaninga shriek or outcry
KJV usagecry(-ing).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zaʻaq — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

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.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun and a verb across 19 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • זַעֲקַת
  • זְעָקָה
  • זַעֲקֶ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H2199 זָעַק a primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly; assembl H8085 שָׁמַע a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc H1419 גָּדוֹל or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phr H3215 יְלָלָה feminine of יְלֵל; {a howl}; a howling.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 18 verses across 9 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (6 verses); never once in the other 30.

1
Genesis
2
Nehemiah
2
Esther
1
Job
1
Proverbs
1
Ecclesiastes
3
Isaiah
6
Jeremiah
1
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.