### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsôwq**, represented by `{{H6695}}`, describes a condition of being in a strait, which is figuratively understood as **distress** or **anguish**. It can also be rendered idiomatically as **troublous**. This specific term appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses**, indicating its use in precise contexts of severe hardship.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{H6695}}` consistently portrays a state of intense difficulty or pressure. It is used prophetically in Daniel to describe the "troublous" times during which Jerusalem's wall would be rebuilt [[Daniel 9:25]]. In Isaiah, it appears alongside words for trouble and darkness, characterizing a land of "anguish" filled with dangerous beasts [[Isaiah 30:6]] and a state of despair when looking upon the earth [[Isaiah 8:22]]. Proverbs uses it to describe the "anguish" that comes upon a person as a consequence of destruction and calamity [[Proverbs 1:27]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of anguish is often intensified by its pairing with a closely related term:
* `{{H6869}}` **tsârâh** (trouble, distress): Defined as tightness or trouble, this word frequently appears with `{{H6695}}` to create a fuller picture of overwhelming adversity. This pairing of "distress and anguish" is seen in the consequences of rejecting wisdom [[Proverbs 1:27]] and in descriptions of a land filled with "trouble and anguish" ([[Isaiah 30:6]], [[Isaiah 8:22]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6695}}` is centered on its depiction of severe and consequential hardship.
* **Consequence of Folly:** The word is used to describe the "anguish" that results from calamity, which comes upon those who ignore wisdom's call. This frames it as a direct outcome of destructive choices [[Proverbs 1:27]].
* **A State of Despair:** In Isaiah's prophecies, "anguish" is part of a vision of utter darkness and trouble that covers the earth, a state of hopelessness [[Isaiah 8:22]]. It also characterizes a treacherous and unprofitable land that people foolishly rely on [[Isaiah 30:6]].
* **Prophetic Time Marker:** The term is not just a general feeling but is also used to define a specific, difficult era. The "troublous" times mentioned in Daniel mark a historically significant period of struggle during the fulfillment of God's plan for Jerusalem [[Daniel 9:25]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6695}}` is a potent and specific term for **anguish** and **distress**. Though used sparingly, its appearances in scripture are significant, marking periods of prophetic fulfillment, divine consequence, and profound suffering. Often paired with `{{H6869}}` for emphasis, **tsôwq** conveys a sense of being in a "strait," a tight and inescapable situation that defines some of the most challenging moments described in the Bible.
TRV