English · KJV
H6771

צָמֵא

tsâmêʼ /tsaw-may'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom צָמֵא
Meaningthirsty (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage(that) thirst(-eth, -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 H6771, means thirsty, in either a literal or figurative sense. It appears 9 times in 9 unique verses and describes a state of intense need or longing. While it can depict simple physical dehydration, it is more often used as a powerful metaphor for spiritual emptiness and the human soul's deep need for divine provision.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H6771 captures moments of both profound physical hardship and deep spiritual invitation. It is used literally to describe David and his people in the wilderness, who were "hungry, and weary, and thirsty" 2 Samuel 17:29. This physical state can be so severe that one's soul H5315 faints Psalms 107:5. Figuratively, the term becomes a universal call, as in the invitation, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters" Isaiah 55:1. The word also illustrates the nature of unfulfilled desire, like a thirsty man who dreams he is drinking, only to awake H6974 faint and unsatisfied Isaiah 29:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the state of being thirsty and its remedy:

  • H7457 râʻêb (hungry): As the direct counterpart to thirst, this word is often used in parallel to describe a state of complete physical need and emptiness Psalms 107:5.
  • H4325 mayim (water): This is the literal solution for one who is thirsty, and it also serves as a symbol for the spiritual satisfaction God provides Isaiah 44:3.
  • H5889 ʻâyêph (faint, thirsty, weary): This word describes the condition of exhaustion that results from thirst, emphasizing the physical weakness that accompanies such a need 2 Samuel 17:29.
  • H8248 shâqâh (cause to drink): This verb refers to the act of quenching thirst, highlighting the provision of water as an act of mercy and kindness Proverbs 25:21.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6771 is tied to the concepts of human dependency and divine grace.

  • A Symbol of Spiritual Need: Thirst represents a profound spiritual lack that only God can fill. The promise is not just for water H4325 but for God's spirit H7307 and blessing H1293 to be poured out on the one who is thirsty Isaiah 44:3.
  • A Measure of Righteousness: The Bible uses the treatment of the thirsty as a moral benchmark. A righteous person gives an enemy water H4325 to drink H8248 when he is thirsty Proverbs 25:21, whereas a vile person H5036 will "cause the drink of the thirsty to fail" Isaiah 32:6.
  • An Invitation to True Satisfaction: Scripture contrasts the false satisfaction of self-will, which only adds "drunkenness to thirst" Deuteronomy 29:19, with God's open invitation to "come, buy wine and milk without money" Isaiah 55:1. This invitation is extended to anyone who recognizes their spiritual thirst.

Summary

In summary, H6771 moves beyond a mere physical sensation to become a crucial theological concept. It portrays the fundamental human condition of need, whether for physical water in the wilderness H4057 or for spiritual sustenance from God. The word serves as a constant reminder that while worldly pursuits leave the soul unsatisfied, God offers complete and gracious fulfillment to all who are thirsty.

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 an adjective across 9 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • צָמֵא
  • צְמֵאִים
  • צְּמֵאָה

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.

H5315 נֶפֶשׁ from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accomm H6974 קוּץ a primitive root (identical with through the idea of abruptness in starting up from sleep (compare יָקַץ)); to awake (li H7457 רָעֵב from רָעֵב; hungry (more or less intensely); hunger bitten, hungry. H4325 מַיִם dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase H5889 עָיֵף from עָיֵף; languid; faint, thirsty, weary. H8248 שָׁקָה a primitive root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to; cause to (give, give to, let, make to)

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 9 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (5 verses); never once in the other 34.

1
Deuteronomy
1
2 Samuel
1
Psalms
1
Proverbs
5
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.