### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsâmêʼ**, represented by `{{H6770}}`, is a primitive root that means **to thirst**. It appears 10 times across 10 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used to describe both a literal, physical need for water and a figurative, spiritual longing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the scriptures, `{{H6770}}` is used to express moments of intense physical need. The Israelites **thirsted** for water in the desert [[Exodus 17:3]], and Samson, after a great victory, was "sore **athirst**" and feared he would die [[Judges 15:18]]. It is also used in simple, everyday contexts, such as when Ruth is invited to drink when she is **athirst** [[Ruth 2:9]] or when Sisera asks for water because he is **thirsty** [[Judges 4:19]]. Figuratively, the term expresses a deep spiritual craving, as in the Psalms, where the soul **thirsteth** for God ([[Psalms 42:2]], [[Psalms 63:1]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to frame the concept of thirst and satisfaction:
* `{{H6772}}` **tsâmâʼ** (thirst): This is the noun form derived from the verb. It is used to describe the state of thirst that leads to death or complaint ([[Exodus 17:3]], [[Judges 15:18]]).
* `{{H7456}}` **râʻêb** (to hunger): Often paired with thirst, this word describes a parallel physical need. God promises that his people "shall not **hunger** nor thirst" [[Isaiah 49:10]], and in a state of judgment, his enemies will be **hungry** while his servants eat [[Isaiah 65:13]].
* `{{H4325}}` **mayim** (water): This word represents the object that satisfies thirst. The Israelites thirsted for **water** [[Exodus 17:3]], and the psalmist's longing for God is compared to a dry land where there is no **water** [[Psalms 63:1]].
* `{{H5889}}` **ʻâyêph** (faint, thirsty, weary): This adjective describes the state of being thirsty or the environment that causes it, such as a "thirsty land" [[Psalms 63:1]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6770}}` is significant, often used as a powerful metaphor.
* **Spiritual Longing:** The most profound use of the term is to describe an intense desire for God's presence. The soul's thirst for God is portrayed as a life-sustaining need, much like physical thirst ([[Psalms 42:2]], [[Psalms 63:1]]).
* **Divine Provision and Judgment:** God's ability to quench thirst is a sign of his miraculous provision and care, as when he provided water from a rock for the Israelites who had not **thirsted** while he led them [[Isaiah 48:21]]. Conversely, being thirsty is used as a mark of judgment against the wicked, who will suffer thirst while God's servants drink [[Isaiah 65:13]].
* **Human Frailty:** Thirst demonstrates human vulnerability and dependence. Even in the midst of their work, the wicked "suffer **thirst**" [[Job 24:11]], and Samson's physical thirst brings him to a point of crying out to God for deliverance [[Judges 15:18]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6770}}` is a potent word that extends far beyond a simple biological urge. It captures a fundamental aspect of the human condition: a state of desperate need. Whether describing the physical thirst of a person in a desert or the spiritual thirst of a soul longing for God, **tsâmêʼ** illustrates a deep-seated dependency that can only be satisfied by a source outside of oneself.
TRV