English · KJV
H6773

צִמְאָה

tsimʼâh /tsim-aw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfeminine of צָמָא
Meaningthirst (figuratively, of libidinousnes)
KJV usagethirst.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsimʼâh — 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 tsimʼâh, represented by H6773, is a specific term for thirst. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its definition highlights that it can be used not only for a physical state but also figuratively to represent a libidinous or intense, unrestrained desire.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The singular use of H6773 is found in a prophetic warning to Israel in Jeremiah. God commands the nation to stop its destructive spiritual pursuits, saying, "Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst" Jeremiah 2:25. In this context, the thirst symbolizes an insatiable and unfaithful craving for "strangers," which Israel explicitly admits to loving and is determined to pursue.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words in its single appearance clarify its meaning:

  • H4513 mânaʻ (to debar... deny, keep (back), refrain, restrain, withhold): This is the command to "withhold" or restrain the desires represented by the thirst Jeremiah 2:25. This same word is used when God withholds rain from the land Amos 4:7 and in the command to "refrain thy voice from weeping" Jeremiah 31:16.
  • H1627 gârôwn (the throat... mouth, neck, throat): This is the physical location that experiences the thirst in the verse Jeremiah 2:25. The throat is elsewhere associated with crying aloud to God Isaiah 58:1 or, in a negative sense, described as "an open sepulchre" representing the wickedness of men Psalms 5:9.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6773 is concentrated in its single, powerful usage.

  • Figurative Desire: The term is used not for simple physical need but as a potent metaphor for spiritual adultery and idolatry. Israel's "thirst" is a destructive craving for foreign gods and alliances.
  • Willful Disobedience: The command to "Withhold... thy throat from thirst" is immediately rejected by Israel, who says, "There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go" Jeremiah 2:25. This frames the thirst as a conscious and willful choice to pursue what is forbidden by God.

Summary

In summary, H6773 offers a potent, one-time illustration of destructive desire. Though it appears only once, it transforms the universal feeling of thirst into a powerful symbol of spiritual unfaithfulness and an insatiable longing for that which is contrary to God's will. Its appearance in Jeremiah 2:25 serves as a stark warning about the nature of unchecked, idolatrous cravings.

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 noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • צִּמְאָה

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.

H4513 מָנַע a primitive root; to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury; deny, keep (back), refrain, restrain, with H1627 גָּרוֹן or (shortened) גָּרֹן; from גָּרַר; (compare גַּרְגְּרוֹת); the throat (as roughened by swallowing); [idiom] aloud, mout

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

1 verse, all in Jeremiah — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.