What does צָמֵא mean in the Bible?
צָמֵא is a Hebrew word meaning "to thirst (literally or figuratively)".
Hebrew · H6770
צָמֵא
To thirst (literally or figuratively)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
צָמֵא H6770
What does צָמֵא mean in the Bible?
צָמֵא is a Hebrew word meaning "to thirst (literally or figuratively)".
Full entry for צָמֵא (H6770) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6770?
The BSB source-word alignment has 10 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include And when you are thirsty (1), but go thirsty (1), I am thirsty (1), or thirst (1), thirst (1).
Where does צָמֵא appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 17:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (3), Judges (2), Psalms (2), Exodus (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It And when you are thirsty 1× Ruth 2:9
but go thirsty 1× Job 24:11
I am thirsty 1× Judges 4:19
or thirst 1× Isaiah 49:10
thirst 1× Isaiah 48:21
thirsted 1× Exodus 17:3
thirsts 1× Psalms 42:2
thirsts for You 1× Psalms 63:1
thirsty 1× Judges 15:18
will go thirsty 1× Isaiah 65:13
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 17:3 וַיִּצְמָ֨א to thirsted Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Judges 4:19 צָמֵ֑אתִי to I am thirsty Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Judges 15:18 וַיִּצְמָא֮ to thirsty Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Ruth 2:9 וְצָמִ֗ת to And when you are thirsty Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular Job 24:11 וַיִּצְמָֽאוּ׃ to but go thirsty Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Psalms 42:2 צָמְאָ֬ה to thirsts Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Psalms 63:1 צָמְאָ֬ה to thirsts for You Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Isaiah 48:21 צָמְא֗וּ to thirst Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Isaiah 49:10 יִצְמָ֔אוּ to or thirst Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Isaiah 65:13 תִּצְמָ֑אוּ to will go thirsty Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 17:3
Aligned rows 10
Books represented 6
Exodus 1 Judges 2 Ruth 1 Job 1 Psalms 2 Isaiah 3
Source forms
צָמְאָ֬ה 2x ṣā·mə·’āh Psalms 42:2, Psalms 63:1
וַיִּצְמָ֨א 1x way·yiṣ·mā Exodus 17:3
וַיִּצְמָא֮ 1x way·yiṣ·mā Judges 15:18
וַיִּצְמָֽאוּ׃ 1x way·yiṣ·mā·’ū Job 24:11
וְצָמִ֗ת 1x wə·ṣā·miṯ Ruth 2:9
יִצְמָ֔אוּ 1x yiṣ·mā·’ū Isaiah 49:10
צָמְא֗וּ 1x ṣā·mə·’ū Isaiah 48:21
צָמֵ֑אתִי 1x ṣā·mê·ṯî Judges 4:19
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Exodus 17:3, Judges 15:18
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 2x Psalms 42:2, Psalms 63:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular 1x Ruth 2:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Job 24:11
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural 1x Isaiah 65:13
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Isaiah 49:10
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular 1x Judges 4:19
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 1x Isaiah 48:21
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to thirst (literally or figuratively)
Source Gloss
to thirst (literally or figuratively)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to thirst (literally or figuratively) BDB: be thirsty Usage: (be a-, suffer) thirst(-y).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 6
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 6×
Perfect Ps 42:3 · Ps 63:2 · Isa 48:21 · Judg 4:19 4×
Imperfect Isa 49:10 · Isa 65:13 2×
Word Origins
צָמֵא is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain