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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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