feminine of צְחִיחַ; a parched region, i.e. the desert; dry land.
Transliteration:tsᵉchîychâh
Pronunciation:tsekh-ee-khaw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word tsᵉchîychâh (`{{H6707}}`) is a feminine noun derived from the masculine tsᵉchîyach (`{{H6706}}`). Its fundamental meaning revolves around the concept of dryness and desolation. Specifically, it denotes a "parched region," "dry land," or "desert." The underlying root, צחח (tsachach), carries the semantic range of being dry, parched, or even glaringly white, suggesting a landscape bleached by intense heat and lack of moisture. Thus, tsᵉchîychâh describes a geographical area characterized by extreme aridity, barrenness, and a palpable absence of life-sustaining water. It conveys a sense of exposed, unyielding ground.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term tsᵉchîychâh (`{{H6707}}`) appears in a limited number of instances within the Hebrew Bible, primarily in poetic and prophetic contexts, to evoke powerful imagery of desolation or exposure.
* In [[Psalm 68:6]], the phrase "dwell in a parched land" (בַּצְּחִיחָה) contrasts with God's benevolent actions toward the lonely and the prisoners. The verse states, "God sets the lonely in families; He brings out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land." Here, the "parched land" symbolizes a state of hardship, isolation, or divine judgment for those who oppose God, contrasting sharply with the prosperity and community granted to the obedient.
* The most striking uses are found in [[Ezekiel 24:7]] and [[Ezekiel 24:8]], where tsᵉchîychâh (`{{H6707}}`) describes the "bare rock" or "parched ground" upon which the blood of Jerusalem's inhabitants was poured out. "For her blood was in the midst of her; she poured it upon the bare rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust. To cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have poured her blood upon the bare rock, that it should not be covered." In this context, tsᵉchîychâh emphasizes the unabsorbent, unyielding nature of the ground, ensuring that the spilled blood—symbolizing unatoned guilt and violence—remains visible and exposed, crying out for divine retribution. It highlights the glaring, undeniable nature of the sin.
Across these occurrences, tsᵉchîychâh consistently depicts a place or surface that is dry, barren, and exposed, often carrying connotations of desolation, judgment, or the stark reality of unaddressed sin.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of tsᵉchîychâh (`{{H6707}}`) is enriched by its relationship to other Hebrew terms:
* **`{{H6706}}` צְחִיחַ (tsᵉchîyach):** The masculine counterpart, meaning "glaring," "bare," or "parched." This term is famously used to describe the "likeness of the firmament" above the heads of the cherubim in [[Ezekiel 1:22]], appearing like "awesome crystal." It also describes the "pavement of sapphire" under God's feet in [[Exodus 24:10]]. The feminine tsᵉchîychâh extends this concept of a bare, smooth, or dazzling surface to a parched geographical region.
* **`{{H6705}}` צָחַח (tsachach):** The verbal root from which both tsᵉchîychâh and tsᵉchîyach derive. It means "to be dazzling white," "to be parched," or "to be bare." This root underscores the core idea of dryness, exposure, and a bleached appearance.
* **`{{H2723}}` חָרֵב (ḥārēḇ):** A common adjective and verb meaning "dry," "desolate," or "to be laid waste." This word frequently describes land that has become barren due to drought or destruction, sharing the semantic field of desolation with tsᵉchîychâh.
* **`{{H4057}}` מִדְבָּר (midbār):** The most common Hebrew word for "wilderness" or "desert." While midbār can describe any unpopulated area, tsᵉchîychâh (`{{H6707}}`) specifically emphasizes the *parchedness* and *dryness* as the defining characteristic of the region.
* **Concepts of Barrenness and Desolation:** tsᵉchîychâh is intrinsically linked to biblical themes of barrenness, desolation, and the consequences of divine judgment or the absence of divine blessing.
### Theological Significance
The theological import of tsᵉchîychâh (`{{H6707}}`) is profound, serving as a powerful symbol for spiritual states and divine justice.
* **Spiritual Desolation:** A "parched region" often metaphorically represents a state of spiritual barrenness, a life devoid of God's life-giving presence, grace, and blessing. Just as physical dryness leads to death and unfruitfulness, spiritual dryness results in a lack of vitality and spiritual fruit. The contrast in [[Psalm 68:6]] highlights God's power to transform such desolation into flourishing life for the righteous, while leaving the rebellious in their self-imposed barrenness.
* **Unatoned Sin and Divine Justice:** The use of tsᵉchîychâh in [[Ezekiel 24:7-8]] is particularly stark. The "bare rock" that cannot absorb the spilled blood powerfully illustrates the indelible nature of unatoned sin and guilt. The parched, unyielding surface ensures that the sin remains exposed, crying out for divine justice and vengeance. This imagery underscores the severity of unconfessed or unpunished sin, which cannot be hidden or forgotten in God's sight. It emphasizes the absolute necessity of covering or atonement for sin.
* **God's Transformative Power:** The starkness of tsᵉchîychâh (`{{H6707}}`) also serves as a dramatic backdrop against which God's miraculous provision and transformative power are highlighted. The biblical narrative frequently contrasts the barren wilderness with God's ability to provide water from a rock (e.g., [[Exodus 17:6]]) and to promise future restoration where "the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water" (e.g., [[Isaiah 35:7]]). This demonstrates that only God can bring life and flourishing to the most desolate and spiritually parched places.
### Summary
tsᵉchîychâh (`{{H6707}}`) is a Hebrew noun signifying a "parched region" or "dry land," derived from a root that emphasizes extreme aridity and barrenness. Its limited but impactful occurrences in the Bible, notably in [[Psalm 68:6]] and [[Ezekiel 24:7-8]], consistently depict landscapes characterized by a profound lack of moisture and life. Theologically, tsᵉchîychâh serves as a potent symbol for spiritual desolation, the dire consequences of unatoned sin that remains exposed before God, and the unyielding nature of a land or heart devoid of divine blessing. Yet, it also implicitly magnifies God's unique power to transform such barrenness into life and to bring forth justice where sin is laid bare.
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