צִיחָא (tsi.ach)
tsi.ach
Ziha
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Tsiach, meaning "parched," appears only three times in Scripture, linking two distinct moments in the post-exilic restoration. In Ezra 2:43, it identifies an ancestor of a family of temple servants who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. This same lineage is later referenced in Nehemiah 11:21, where Tsiach is described as the chief of these servants residing in Ophel.
These brief mentions highlight the role of the Nethinim, or temple slaves, who supported worship after the Babylonian exile. The name’s root suggests a dry or arid condition, perhaps reflecting the harsh environment of the return or serving as a distinctive family identifier. By recording these names, the biblical text preserves the memory of ordinary individuals who contributed to the rebuilding of community life.
Though obscure in modern study, Tsiach illustrates how the restoration involved many unnamed participants whose service sustained religious practice. The sources confirm his dual appearance as both an ancestral figure and a local leader, anchoring his identity in the historical reality of Jerusalem’s renewal rather than abstract theology.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Tsiach appears in lists that might seem dry at first glance, yet it carries a quiet dignity. It identifies an ancestor of the temple servants who returned from exile to help rebuild Jerusalem’s worship life. These individuals were not kings or prophets, but ordinary people whose faithful service sustained the community.
Seeing names like Tsiach reminds us that God values every contribution to His work. Whether leading a group in Ophel or simply belonging to a lineage of dedicated servants, each person played a part in restoring spiritual life. Their stories encourage us that our own small acts of faithfulness are seen and remembered by God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ziha2×
- and/ Ziha1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צִיחָ֥א1×
- צִחָ֥א1×
- וְ/צִיחָ֥א1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 2:43
The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
This verse establishes Tsiach as the ancestral head of a family group among the temple servants returning from Babylon.
-
Nehemiah 7:46
The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
The repetition here confirms the continuity of this family line during the later restoration period under Artaxerxes.
-
Nehemiah 11:21
But the temple servants lived in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.
This occurrence highlights Tsiach’s role as a leader over the temple servants residing in Ophel, showing active responsibility.