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H6770

צָמֵא

tsâmêʼ /tsaw-may'/ Ask about this word
a primitive root
to thirst (literally or figuratively)
(be a-, suffer) thirst(-y).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsâmêʼ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

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.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 10 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יִּצְמָא
  • צָמְאָה
  • יִּצְמָאוּ
  • צָמִת
  • תִּצְמָאוּ
  • יִצְמָאוּ
  • צָמֵאתִי
  • צָמְאוּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 10 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 33.

1
Exodus
2
Judges
1
Ruth
1
Job
2
Psalms
3
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.