צוּק (tsuq)
tsuq
to pour
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tsuq describes the physical act of pouring or melting. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic books like Job and Isaiah. The word captures the movement of liquids or the softening of solids under heat, such as metal becoming fluid.
In its limited usage, tsuq often accompanies imagery of divine judgment or intense pressure. For instance, Isaiah uses it to describe how nations are poured out like molten lead (Isaiah 14:21), emphasizing a heavy, inescapable force. Similarly, Job employs the term when discussing the melting of ice or the pouring of waters, highlighting nature’s responsiveness to God’s command.
Though rare, tsuq carries weight through its context. It is not used for gentle sprinkling but for substantial, often dramatic outpouring. Translators typically render it as "pour" or "melt," depending on whether the subject is liquid being released or solid yielding to heat. This distinction helps readers visualize the intensity of the scenes described.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsuq describes a powerful movement of liquid or melting metal. It is not a gentle sprinkle but a significant outpouring. When we see this in Scripture, it reminds us that God’s actions are often substantial and visible. He does not hide His work in small details alone; sometimes He pours out His presence with force.
In Job 29:6, the rock poured out streams of oil. This image shows how God can make even the hardest places yield abundance. It suggests that no obstacle is too rigid for His blessing. When life feels dry or unyielding, this word points to a reality where nature itself responds to divine command.
Isaiah 26:16 uses tsuq for pouring out prayer during trouble. Here, the action is human but directed toward God. It shows that our cries are not lost. They are poured out before Him with weight and sincerity. This gives comfort when we feel overwhelmed, knowing our prayers matter deeply to the One who hears them.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they poured out/ !1×
- someone pours out1×
- it poured out1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָצ֥וּק2×
- צָק֣וּ/ן1×
Key Verses
-
Job 29:6
when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
This verse uses tsuq to describe a miraculous outpouring of oil from rock, highlighting God's ability to provide abundance even in difficult circumstances.
-
Isaiah 26:16
Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.
Here the word describes pouring out prayer during affliction, emphasizing the intensity and sincerity of human cries for help in times of distress.
-
Job 28:2
Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted out of the ore.
Although often translated as smelted, this occurrence relates to the melting process of copper, illustrating how heat transforms solid ore into fluid metal.