### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsîyâh**, represented by `{{H6723}}`, describes aridity and is often translated as **drought**, **dry land**, or **wilderness**. It appears 16 times in 16 unique verses. Its core meaning relates to a parched, barren, and solitary place, emphasizing a severe lack of water and life.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In Scripture, `{{H6723}}` is used both literally and metaphorically to depict extreme conditions. It describes the physical state of a land "where no water is" [[Psalms 63:1]] and the setting for God's judgment, as when Nineveh is made "dry like a wilderness" [[Zephaniah 2:13]]. Metaphorically, it represents a state of spiritual desolation, such as the Messiah growing up "as a root out of a dry ground" [[Isaiah 53:2]]. Conversely, these same dry places become the backdrop for God's miraculous provision, where He turns the "dry land" into "springs of water" [[Isaiah 41:18]] and makes the "solitary place" rejoice [[Isaiah 35:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the concept of a dry and desolate land:
* `{{H4057}}` **midbâr** (wilderness): This word is frequently used alongside `{{H6723}}` to describe a deserted place. The pairing of "the wilderness `{{H4057}}` and the solitary place `{{H6723}}`" in [[Isaiah 35:1]] illustrates the shared sense of an uninhabited, barren region.
* `{{H4325}}` **mayim** (water): This term represents the essential element that is absent from a `{{H6723}}` place. Its absence defines the environment, as highlighted in the description of a "dry and thirsty land, where no water is" [[Psalms 63:1]].
* `{{H6772}}` **tsâmâʼ** (thirst): A direct consequence of being in a `{{H6723}}` land. God warns that He could make Israel "like a dry land, and slay her with thirst" [[Hosea 2:3]], directly linking the parched ground to physical suffering.
* `{{H8077}}` **shᵉmâmâh** (devastation): This word emphasizes the ruinous nature of a `{{H6723}}` landscape. An invading army is driven into a land described as "barren `{{H6723}}` and desolate `{{H8077}}`" [[Joel 2:20]], showing that dryness is synonymous with utter devastation.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6723}}` is significant, often used to illustrate key spiritual truths:
* **Place of Judgment:** A "dry land" is frequently portrayed as the result of divine judgment against nations and people. Babylon's future is described as "a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert" [[Jeremiah 50:12]], and Israel is warned she could be made "like a dry land" for her unfaithfulness [[Hosea 2:3]].
* **Symbol of Need:** The word powerfully illustrates human desperation and longing for God. In the wilderness, David’s soul thirsts for God "in a dry and thirsty land" [[Psalms 63:1]], using the physical environment to express a deep spiritual need.
* **Stage for Divine Restoration:** The ultimate barrenness of a `{{H6723}}` place serves as the perfect canvas for God to display His power to bring life from death. God promises to turn "the wilderness into a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water" [[Isaiah 41:18]], demonstrating His ability to redeem and restore what is desolate.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6723}}` is more than a geographical descriptor. It is a profound biblical symbol representing barrenness, judgment, and profound spiritual need. It stands in stark contrast to the life-giving presence of God, who demonstrates His ultimate power and grace by transforming these desolate places into regions of abundance and life.
TRV