from צוּר; a hinge (as pressed in turning); also a throe (as a phys. or mental pressure); also a herald or erranddoer (as constrained by the principal); ambassador, hinge, messenger, pain, pang, sorrow. Compare צִיר.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsîyr**, represented by `{{H6735}}`, is a multifaceted term that appears **12 times** across **11 unique verses**. Its definition encompasses a range of meanings derived from the idea of pressure or constraint, including an **ambassador** or **messenger** (as one constrained by a principal), a **throe** or **pang** (as a physical or mental pressure), and a **hinge** (as pressed in turning).
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H6735}}` is used in several distinct contexts. It frequently denotes an **ambassador** or **messenger** sent on a critical mission, such as the one sent by the LORD to the nations to call for battle ([[Obadiah 1:1]], [[Jeremiah 49:14]]). The character of the emissary is crucial, as a faithful **ambassador** is health [[Proverbs 13:17]], while sending **messengers** far off can be an act of debasement [[Isaiah 57:9]]. The term also describes intense physical and emotional distress, such as the **pangs** of terror seizing people in the face of judgment ([[Isaiah 13:8]], [[Isaiah 21:3]]) or the **pains** of childbirth [[1 Samuel 4:19]]. In a more literal sense, it is used for the **hinges** upon which a door turns, creating a metaphor for the pointless movement of a slothful person [[Proverbs 26:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the different applications of `{{H6735}}`:
* `{{H1817}}` **deleth** (door): This word is used in direct connection with `{{H6735}}` in the proverb that compares a slothful person's turning on his bed to a **door** turning on its **hinges** [[Proverbs 26:14]].
* `{{H2256}}` **chebel** (throe, pain, sorrow): This term appears alongside `{{H6735}}` to intensify the description of anguish during judgment, where **pangs** and **sorrows** take hold of people [[Isaiah 13:8]].
* `{{H4397}}` **mal'ak** (messenger): This is a common word for **messenger** and is used in verses that contrast a wicked **messenger** with a faithful **ambassador** `{{H6735}}` [[Proverbs 13:17]] and to describe **swift** messengers sent to a terrible nation [[Isaiah 18:2]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6735}}` is evident in its various usages.
* **Divine Representation:** The word underscores the importance of a faithful representative. A faithful **messenger** refreshes the soul of his master, just as a faithful servant of God brings life and health ([[Proverbs 25:13]], [[Proverbs 13:17]]). This highlights the responsibility and impact of those who carry a divine message.
* **The Pangs of Judgment:** `{{H6735}}` is powerfully used to illustrate the terror of divine judgment. The **pangs** described are not mere discomfort but a deep, seizing anguish that affects both body and mind, as experienced by Daniel in a vision [[Daniel 10:16]] and by nations facing destruction ([[Isaiah 13:8]], [[Isaiah 21:3]]).
* **Wisdom and Folly:** The metaphor of the **hinge** serves as a stark moral lesson on laziness. The slothful person, like a door on its **hinges**, is characterized by motion without progress, trapped in a cycle of inactivity [[Proverbs 26:14]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6735}}` is a remarkably versatile word that carries concepts of representation, anguish, and pivotal function. It illustrates how a single term can convey the gravity of a divine message through an **ambassador**, the intense sorrow of judgment through **pangs**, and a moral truth through the image of a **hinge**. From the high-stakes world of diplomacy to the inner world of suffering and the mundane reality of a lazy man's bed, **tsîyr** enriches the biblical text with layers of meaning rooted in the idea of pressure and constraint.
TRV