English · KJV
H6873

צָרַח

tsârach /tsaw-rakh'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto be clear (in tone, i.e. shrill), i.e. to whoop
KJV usagecry, roar.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsârach — 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 tsârach, represented by H6873, is a primitive root meaning to be clear (in tone, i.e. shrill), i.e. to whoop; cry, roar. Though it appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses, its usage in scripture signifies a powerful and intense vocal expression, ranging from a bitter cry to a victorious roar.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H6873 is used in two distinct yet powerful prophetic contexts. In Zephaniah, it describes a cry of anguish during a time of judgment, stating that on the great day of the LORD, "the mighty man shall cry there bitterly" Zephaniah 1:14. Conversely, in Isaiah, the word is used to describe God's own triumphant war cry. The prophet declares that the LORD will go forth as a mighty man of war, and "he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies" Isaiah 42:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the context surrounding this powerful cry:

  • H1368 gibbôwr (powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant): This word for "mighty man" is used in both instances of H6873, referring to the man crying in bitter judgment Zephaniah 1:14 and to the LORD himself as a divine warrior Isaiah 42:13.
  • H7321 rûwaʻ (to shout (for alarm or joy)): This word is used in direct parallel to H6873 in Isaiah 42:13, where the LORD "shall cry, yea, roar," emphasizing the intensity and nature of the sound as a war shout.
  • H1396 gâbar (to be strong; by implication, to prevail): This word describes the outcome of the LORD's roar in Isaiah 42:13, linking the divine cry directly to the assurance that He will prevail over His adversaries.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6873 is tied to its use in moments of ultimate consequence.

  • The Cry of Judgment: The word is associated with the great day of the LORD, a time of reckoning where even the mighty man will utter a bitterly shrill cry, signifying profound distress Zephaniah 1:14.
  • The Divine War Cry: In a dramatic shift, the cry is attributed to the LORD Himself, who goes forth as a warrior. His roar is a sign of His power as He prepares to execute judgment and stir up jealousy against His foes Isaiah 42:13.
  • A Sound of Prevailing Power: The roar of the LORD is not an expression of anguish but of strength. It is the sound that precedes victory, as the text confirms He "shall prevail against his enemies," demonstrating that His cry is one of absolute dominance and authority Isaiah 42:13.

Summary

In summary, H6873 is a rare but impactful term for a shrill cry or roar. It powerfully conveys two sides of divine judgment: the bitter cry of humanity facing the consequences of the day of the LORD, and the mighty, prevailing war cry of God Himself as a warrior who triumphs over all enemies. The word captures the intensity of these definitive biblical moments.

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 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • יַצְרִיחַ
  • צֹרֵחַ

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.

H1368 גִּבּוֹר or גִּבֹּר; (shortened) intensive from the same as גֶּבֶר; powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant; champion, chief, [ H7321 רוּעַ a primitive root; to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively, to split the ears (with sound), i.e. shout (for alarm o H1396 גָּבַר a primitive root; to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently; exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevai

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah and Zephaniah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Isaiah
1
Zephaniah

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.