שׁוּעַ (shu.a)
shu.a
cry
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shu’a means to cry out, typically in a context of distress or urgent need. It describes vocalizing a plea for help rather than silent suffering. This word appears only twice in the entire Hebrew Bible, both times within the book of Job.
Its usage is concentrated in Job 30:25 and Job 40:24. In these passages, it underscores the intensity of human vulnerability against overwhelming circumstances. The sources note a secondary, uncertain meaning related to "opulence," but this sense is rare and likely derived from a different root or context.
Translators usually render shu’a as "cry" or "cry out." This choice captures the raw, immediate nature of the sound. It reflects a moment where words fail and only a cry remains. The word’s scarcity highlights how specific moments of desperate appeal are recorded in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shu’a describes a cry born from deep distress. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both within the book of Job. This rarity highlights how Scripture records raw human vulnerability. When words fail, sometimes only a cry remains.
In Job 30:25, the psalmist asks if God ignores those who cry for help in their calamity. This reminds us that our desperate pleas are seen. You do not have to hide your pain or pretend to be strong when you feel overwhelmed.
God hears the cry of the afflicted. Even when answers seem delayed, your voice matters to Him. Bring your honest struggles to Him. He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- opulence/ your1×
- a cry for help1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֽׁוּעַ\׃1×
- שׁ֭וּעֲ/ךָ1×
Key Verses
-
Job 30:24
“However doesn’t one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
This verse explicitly links the act of crying out with the reality of calamity, showing that distress naturally leads to a plea for divine intervention.
-
Job 36:19
Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Although this verse questions whether wealth can sustain one in distress, it provides context for the kind of crisis where such a cry would be necessary.