זְעָקָה (ze.a.qah)
ze.a.qah
outcry
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun ze’aqah refers to a loud, urgent cry, typically one born of distress or oppression. It is not a casual shout but a desperate call for help that demands attention. In the Hebrew Bible, this word captures the raw sound of people suffering under injustice, war, or heavy burdens.
Its usage often highlights a specific dynamic: the cry of the oppressed rising to heaven. For instance, it describes the outcry of the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 3:7) and the cries of those exploited by wealthy landowners (Amos 5:12). The sources note its frequent appearance in Jeremiah and Isaiah, where it signals national crisis and divine judgment.
The word carries significant theological weight because it implies that God hears these cries. When the oppressed call out, it is not ignored; rather, it often precedes God’s intervention or His response through prophets. This connection between human suffering and divine attention makes ze’aqah a key term for understanding biblical justice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ze’aqah describes an urgent outcry born from deep distress or oppression. It is not a casual shout but a desperate call for help that demands attention. In the biblical narrative, this sound often rises from those suffering under injustice, war, or heavy burdens. The text highlights a specific dynamic: the cry of the oppressed rising to heaven.
This connection between human suffering and divine attention offers profound comfort. When people call out in pain, it is not ignored. Instead, God hears these cries and often responds through intervention or prophetic warning. Understanding this word reminds us that our struggles are seen and that justice is a core part of God’s character.
For your faith life, this term invites honesty before God. You do not need to hide your pain or silence your questions. The Bible shows that God listens to the raw sounds of grief and injustice. This assurance allows you to bring your heaviest burdens to Him with confidence, knowing He is attentive to the cries of His people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a cry of distress5×
- outcry/ their2×
- to/ outcry/ my1×
- the/ cry1×
- more than/ [the] cry of1×
- from/ [the] cry of distress of1×
- from/ [the] cry of1×
- and/ cry of distress/ their1×
- and/ a cry of distress1×
- a cry of1×
- a cry1×
- [the] outcry of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- זְעָקָה֙2×
- מִ/זַּעֲקַת\־1×
- מִ/זַּעֲקַ֨ת1×
- מִ/זַּעֲקַ֥ת1×
- לְ/זַעֲקָתִֽ/י\׃1×
- זְּעָקָ֖ה1×
- זַעֲקָתָ֥/ם1×
- זַעֲקַת\־1×
- זַעֲקַ֛ת1×
- זַֽעֲקָתָ֔/ם1×
- זְעָקָֽה\׃1×
- זְעָקָ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 18:20
Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
This verse establishes that great outcry serves as evidence of grievous sin, showing God’s awareness of moral corruption.
-
Nehemiah 9:9
“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,
Here the word recalls God hearing the cry of Israel’s fathers in Egypt, linking past deliverance to His faithful nature.
-
Proverbs 21:13
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
This warning illustrates the moral consequence of ignoring the poor, showing that silence toward others leads to divine silence toward us.
-
Jeremiah 50:46
The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon. The cry is heard among the nations.
The outcry here signals the fall of Babylon, demonstrating how national judgment is announced through such cries.