or (feminine) צוּקָה; from צוּק; a strait, i.e. (figuratively) distress; anguish, [idiom] troublous.
Transliteration:tsôwq
Pronunciation:tsoke
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H6695 (צוֹק, tsôwq) primarily conveys the sense of a "strait" or a "narrow place." This literal meaning forms the basis for its predominant figurative usage, which signifies a state of intense difficulty, pressure, or confinement. Its semantic range extends to:
* **Distress:** A condition of great physical or mental suffering.
* **Anguish:** Severe pain, suffering, or sorrow, often implying a feeling of being trapped or overwhelmed.
* **Troublous:** Characterized by trouble, difficulty, or danger.
The word is derived from the verbal root `{{H6693}}` (צוּק), which means "to press," "to compel," "to besiege," or "to be narrow." This root connection reinforces the idea of being hemmed in, constricted, or under severe pressure. The feminine form, צוּקָה (tsûqah), carries the same core meaning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
H6695 appears in various contexts, consistently depicting situations of severe hardship:
* **Military and National Peril:**
* In [[Judges 10:9]], Israel is described as being "sore distressed" (צוֹק) by the Ammonites, indicating a dire military and existential threat.
* [[1 Samuel 13:6]] illustrates the Israelites' desperate "strait" (צוֹק) when facing the Philistines, causing them to hide in caves due to overwhelming pressure.
* [[Jeremiah 19:9]] uses tsôwq to describe the extreme "straitness" of a siege, a context where conditions become so dire that people resort to cannibalism.
* **Personal and Communal Affliction:**
* Psalm 107 repeatedly uses tsôwq (often in the plural, צוקות) to describe the "distresses" from which the Lord delivers His people ([[Psalm 107:6]], [[Psalm 107:13]], [[Psalm 107:19]], [[Psalm 107:28]]). These verses emphasize a pattern of human suffering, a cry for divine help, and subsequent deliverance.
* **Prophetic Judgment:**
* [[Isaiah 8:22]] pairs tsôwq with "darkness" and "dimness," portraying a time of overwhelming anguish and despair as a consequence of divine judgment.
* [[Isaiah 30:6]] describes a journey through a land of "trouble and anguish" (צוֹקָה), highlighting the futility and danger of seeking help from Egypt.
* [[Zephaniah 1:15]] lists tsôwq as one of the defining characteristics of the "Day of the Lord," signifying a time of intense judgment, desolation, and overwhelming trouble.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H6693}}` צוּק (tsûq):** The verbal root "to press," "to constrain," "to besiege," or "to be narrow." This direct relationship underscores the core meaning of tsôwq as a state of being "pressed" or "hemmed in."
* **`{{H6862}}` צָרָה (tsarah):** A very common Hebrew word meaning "distress," "trouble," or "adversity." While tsarah is a broader term for affliction, tsôwq often emphasizes the *constrictive* or *pressing* nature of the trouble.
* **`{{H4689}}` מָצוֹק (matsôq):** Another noun derived from the same root, also meaning "distress" or "affliction," frequently used in the context of a siege.
* **Concepts:** The word tsôwq is intrinsically linked to concepts such as siege warfare, the feeling of being trapped, and the desperation that arises from overwhelming circumstances. Crucially, in many biblical contexts, it serves as the catalyst for a cry to God and subsequent divine deliverance.
### Theological Significance
The word tsôwq carries profound theological weight, articulating the human experience of profound affliction and desperate circumstances. The imagery of being "pressed" or "narrowed" speaks to situations where options are few, resources are scarce, and escape seems impossible.
Theologically, tsôwq illuminates several key truths:
1. **The Reality of Suffering:** The biblical narrative unflinchingly portrays the harsh realities of human suffering, whether from external enemies, natural calamities, or divine judgment. tsôwq serves as a potent descriptor of such dire states.
2. **Human Helplessness and Dependence:** When individuals or a nation are in tsôwq, they are often at the end of their own resources. This state of utter helplessness frequently serves as a catalyst for crying out to God, as powerfully illustrated in Psalm 107. It underscores humanity's inherent dependence on divine intervention.
3. **God as Deliverer:** A consistent theological response to tsôwq in the Bible, particularly in the Psalms, is God's role as the faithful deliverer. He is portrayed as the one who hears the cries of the distressed and brings them out of their constricted circumstances into a place of freedom and relief. This demonstrates His compassion, power, and unwavering covenant faithfulness.
4. **Consequence of Disobedience/Judgment:** In prophetic contexts (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah), tsôwq can also be a consequence of Israel's disobedience, forming a part of divine judgment. Here, the "straitness" is a just recompense, a means by which God brings His people to repentance or fulfills His righteous decrees.
5. **The Refining Crucible:** While inherently painful, tsôwq can also function as a crucible, a refining experience that purifies faith and deepens reliance on God. It is often in these moments of extreme pressure that true character and trust in the Almighty are forged.
### Summary
H6695 (צוֹק, tsôwq) denotes a "strait," referring literally to a narrow place and, more commonly, figuratively to a state of severe "distress," "anguish," or "trouble." Derived from the verb `{{H6693}}` (צוּק) meaning "to press" or "to constrain," it vividly describes situations where one is hemmed in, under immense pressure, or facing overwhelming difficulty. Biblical occurrences demonstrate its use in contexts of military siege ([[1 Samuel 13:6]], [[Jeremiah 19:9]]), national calamity ([[Judges 10:9]]), and personal or communal affliction ([[Psalm 107:6]], [[Isaiah 8:22]]). Theologically, tsôwq underscores the reality of human suffering, highlights humanity's desperate need for divine intervention, and consistently points to God as the faithful Deliverer who rescues His people from their most constricted and painful circumstances, often in response to their cries for help. It also serves as a descriptor for the severity of divine judgment.
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