צְוָחָה (tse.va.chah)
tse.va.chah
outcry
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tsevaḥah denotes a loud, urgent outcry or shout. It appears only four times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in Jeremiah and Psalms. The word captures a sound that is not merely noise but a desperate cry for help or a protest against injustice.
Its usage often highlights a communal distress that demands divine attention. For instance, Jeremiah uses it to describe the people’s wailing over their own destruction (Jeremiah 4:31), while Psalms employs it to depict the collective plea of the faithful in times of trouble (Psalm 59:6). The term emphasizes the volume and intensity of the cry, signaling a situation so critical that silence is no longer an option.
Translators typically render tsevaḥah as "outcry" or "shout," preserving its raw, emotional force. This lexical choice reminds readers that biblical prayer and lament are often expressed through loud, unfiltered voices rather than quiet contemplation alone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tsevaḥah captures a sound that is raw, urgent, and impossible to ignore. It is not a polite request or a quiet whisper, but a desperate outcry born of deep distress. When the biblical writers use this term, they are describing moments where pain has become so acute that silence is no longer an option. This reminds us that bringing our heaviest burdens to God does not require polished language or perfect composure.
In Jeremiah 46:12, the earth is described as full of this cry, highlighting how communal suffering can overwhelm even the strongest among us. Yet, this loud protest against injustice or despair is also an act of faith. It signals that we believe God is listening and able to respond. We do not need to hide our fear or suppress our grief; instead, we can offer these honest, vocal pleas as a form of prayer.
There is comfort in knowing that Scripture validates such intense expressions of the human heart. Whether you are facing personal loss or witnessing injustice in the world, your voice matters. God invites us to bring our loudest cries and deepest sorrows directly to Him, trusting that He hears every word.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ outcry/ your1×
- and/ [the] outcry of1×
- an outcry1×
- [will be] an outcry1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צְוָחָ֥ה1×
- צְ֝וָחָ֗ה1×
- וְ/צִוְחָתֵ֖/ךְ1×
- וְ/צִוְחַ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 46:12
The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, they both fall together.”
This verse uses the term to describe a widespread, earth-shaking cry of shame and defeat, emphasizing the sheer volume of communal distress.
-
Psalms 144:14
Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets.
Here the absence of an outcry signifies peace and security, showing that this word represents the disruption caused by violence or chaos.
-
Jeremiah 14:2
“Judah mourns, and its gates languish. They sit in black on the ground. The cry of Jerusalem goes up.
The text links this cry directly to mourning and national grief, illustrating how collective pain rises up from the city gates.