### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsᵉvâchâh**, represented by `{{H6682}}`, is defined as **a screech (of anguish)** or **cry(-ing)**. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. This term consistently signifies a sound of deep distress, typically arising from collective mourning, national shame, or the loss of all joy and security.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H6682}}` describes a public outcry of severe distress. It is the **cry** of Jerusalem that has "gone up" as a result of Judah's mourning and languishing [[Jeremiah 14:2]]. It is also the sound that "hath filled the land" when the nations hear of a mighty nation's shame and defeat [[Jeremiah 46:12]]. In Isaiah, it is a desperate "**crying** for wine in the streets" when all joy has been darkened [[Isaiah 24:11]]. Conversely, the absence of this sound is presented as a mark of blessing and peace, a time with "no **complaining** in our streets" [[Psalms 144:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help frame the context of this anguished cry:
* `{{H56}}` **'âbal** (to bewail; lament, mourn): This word is used in direct parallel with the cry of Jerusalem, establishing a scene of deep grief where Judah **mourneth** and the city's cry goes up [[Jeremiah 14:2]].
* `{{H7036}}` **qâlôwn** (disgrace; confusion, dishonour, ignominy, reproach, shame): The cry in Jeremiah is the audible result of national **shame**, which has been heard by surrounding nations [[Jeremiah 46:12]].
* `{{H8057}}` **simchâh** (blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival); gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing)): This word is used to describe what has been lost. The crying for wine occurs precisely because "all **joy** is darkened" [[Isaiah 24:11]].
* `{{H3782}}` **kâshal** (to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall): The cry that fills the land is a consequence of the mighty man having **stumbled** and fallen in defeat [[Jeremiah 46:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6682}}` is tied to its function as an indicator of a nation's state.
* **A Sign of Judgment:** The cry is never a random outburst but a direct consequence of a fallen state. It arises from mourning, national shame, and the complete loss of joy, all of which are depicted as results of sin or judgment ([[Jeremiah 14:2]], [[Isaiah 24:11]]).
* **The Opposite of Blessing:** Its presence signals a lack of peace and security. A state of divine blessing and stability is explicitly defined by the absence of this cry, where there is no "breaking in" and no "**complaining**" in the streets [[Psalms 144:14]].
* **A Communal Experience:** This is not a private sorrow but a public one. It is the cry "of Jerusalem" that fills "the land" and is heard "in the streets," signifying a collective anguish that affects the entire community ([[Jeremiah 14:2]], [[Jeremiah 46:12]], [[Isaiah 24:11]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6682}}` is more than a simple word for a cry. It is a powerful auditory symbol of communal agony, shame, and the consequences of judgment. Its presence marks a society in distress, while its absence signifies the profound peace and security of divine blessing. The use of **tsᵉvâchâh** demonstrates how a single sound can represent the spiritual and physical condition of an entire people.
TRV