### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsâʻaq**, represented by `{{H6817}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to shriek**. By implication, it can mean to proclaim an assembly or to cry out. It appears 55 times in 53 verses, often depicting an urgent appeal for help or a call for people to gather.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H6817}}` is used in several key contexts. It frequently describes a cry directed to God in times of great distress or fear. When the children of Israel were pursued by the Egyptians, they were "sore afraid" and **cried out** unto the LORD [[Exodus 14:10]]. This pattern of crying out in trouble and receiving divine deliverance is a recurring theme [[Psalms 107:6]]. The word is also used for appeals to human leaders, as when the Egyptians were famished and **cried** to Pharaoh for bread [[Genesis 41:55]]. Beyond a cry of distress, `{{H6817}}` also signifies the gathering of people, such as when Samuel **called** the people together to Mizpeh [[1 Samuel 10:17]] or when the men of Ephraim **gathered themselves together** [[Judges 12:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of crying out and the response it provokes:
* `{{H6818}}` **tsaʻăqâh** (a shriek; cry): This is the noun form derived directly from `{{H6817}}`. It often appears alongside its root, as when Esau, hearing of his lost blessing, **cried** with a great and exceeding bitter **cry** [[Genesis 27:34]].
* `{{H8085}}` **shâmaʻ** (to hear intelligently): This word frequently appears as the divine response to a cry. The assurance that God hears is central, as seen in the promise, "if they cry at all unto me, I will surely **hear** their cry" [[Exodus 22:23]].
* `{{H3905}}` **lâchats** (to press, to distress, oppress): This term often describes the cause of the cry. In Egypt, the people **cry** to the LORD "because of the **oppressors**," and He sends a saviour to deliver them [[Isaiah 19:20]].
* `{{H5337}}` **nâtsal** (to snatch away, deliver, rescue): This is a common outcome of crying out to God. The psalmist declares that the righteous **cry**, the LORD hears, and He **delivereth** them from their troubles [[Psalms 34:17]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6817}}` is significant, highlighting the relationship between human need and divine action.
* **A Cry for Deliverance:** The word is a primary expression of people appealing to God for salvation from their enemies and troubles. Whether facing oppression [[Judges 4:3]], distress [[Psalms 107:28]], or fear [[Exodus 14:10]], the act of crying out is the first step toward divine intervention.
* **God's Attentiveness to the Afflicted:** The repeated connection between the people's cry and God's response reveals His character. God hears the cry of the afflicted and promises deliverance ([[Exodus 22:27]], [[Nehemiah 9:27]]). This establishes a foundational principle that God listens to the pleas of those in need.
* **A Call to Unified Action:** In its secondary sense, `{{H6817}}` is used by leaders like Samuel and Gideon to "call together" or "gather" the people of Israel, often for a religious or military purpose ([[1 Samuel 10:17]], [[Judges 7:24]]). This shows the term can also function as a summons for communal solidarity and action.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6817}}` is a dynamic term that captures a range of vocal expressions. It is most often a shriek or cry born of desperation and need, directed toward a source of help, whether God or a human authority. It also serves as a verb for assembling a group for a common purpose. From the personal anguish of a widow [[2 Kings 4:1]] to the national plea of Israel [[Deuteronomy 26:7]], **tsâʻaq** illustrates a fundamental aspect of the biblical faith: that in times of trouble, a cry for help is made in the hope of being heard and delivered.
TRV