Lexical Summary
zaaq: To cry out, to call for help, to shout
Original Word:זָעַק
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:za`aq
Pronunciation:zah-ak'
Phonetic Spelling:(zaw-ak')
KJV: assemble, call (together), (make a) cry (out), come with such a company, gather (together), cause to be proclaimed
NASB:cried, cry, called together, cries, call, cry aloud, assembled
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to shriek (from anguish or danger)
2. by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
assemble, call together, make a cry out, come with such a company, gather together
A primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly -- assemble, call (together), (make a) cry (out), come with such a company, gather (together), cause to be proclaimed.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto cry, cry out, call
NASB Translationassembled (1), assembled together (1), call (2), called (1), called and together (1), called together (4), complain (1), cried (28), cries (3), cry (25), cry aloud (2), crying aloud (1), issued a proclamation (1), rallied (1), shouting (1), wailed (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] ("" form of q. v.; Arabic
, Aramaic
) —
Perfect3feminine singular2 Samuel 13:19; 1singularPsalm 142:6; 3pluralJudges 6:7 3t.; consecutiveJudges 11:11 2t.; 2 masculine plural consecutive1 Samuel 8:18;Imperfect3masculine singularIsaiah 15:5;1 Samuel 7:9 5t., etc.;ImperativeEzekiel 21:17; feminine singularIsaiah 14:31, compareJeremiah 48:20 Kt;Judges 10:14 2t.;Jeremiah 48:20 Qr;Infinitive construct1 Samuel 7:8;2 Samuel 19:29; suffixIsaiah 30:19;Isaiah 57:13 (Ol§ 245 b Ges§ 61. 1. R 1); —
call, to one's aid, followed by accusative of personJudges 12:2.
cry, cry out, in need:
(), followed byJudges 3:9,15;Judges 6:6,7;Judges 10:10;1 Samuel 7:8,9 (+ of intercession),1 Samuel 12:8,10;1 Samuel 15:11;Micah 3:4;Jeremiah 11:11;Habakkuk 1:2 (with accusative , compareHosea 8:2 below), 2 Chronicles 20:9;Psalm 22:6;Psalm 107:13;Psalm 107:19;Psalm 142:6;Joel 1:14; followed by +Nehemiah 9:4; +Psalm 142:2 ("" ); +Hosea 7:14 (opposed to ); followed byHosea 8:2 (+ object of words uttered),1 Chronicles 5:20; followed by suffixNehemiah 9:28; followed by (without divine name) 2 Chronicles 32:20 ("" ); absolute, but with implication of cry to1 Samuel 8:18;Isaiah 30:19.
, followed byJudges 10:14;Jeremiah 11:12;Jonah 1:5.
, followed by2 Samuel 19:29.
absolute, utterance of horror, anxiety, alarm, distress, sorrow, etc.1 Samuel 4:13;1 Samuel 5:10;1 Samuel 28:12 (+ ),2 Samuel 13:19;2 Samuel 19:5 (+ ),1 Kings 22:32 2Chronicles 18:31;Isaiah 15:4;Isaiah 26:17;Isaiah 57:13;Jeremiah 20:8 ("" , compareHabakkuk 1:2 above),Lamentations 3:8 ("" )Ezekiel 9:8;Ezekiel 11:13;Ezekiel 27:30; also of cry heard by GodExodus 2:23 (P); followed by of that in behalf of, or for which one criesIsaiah 15:5;Jeremiah 48:31; so followed byJeremiah 30:15; followed by accusative of congnate meaning with verbEsther 4:1; ""Jeremiah 47:2; and especially ImperativeIsaiah 14:31;Jeremiah 25:34;Jeremiah 48:20;Ezekiel 21:17.
cry out against one, followed byJob 31:38if my land cry out against me ("" ); compare also (absolute, and without preposition)Habakkuk 2:11the stone shall cry out of ()the wall.
Perfect2masculine singularJudges 18:23; 3masculine pluralJudges 18:22;ImperfectJudges 6:34 2t.;Joshua 8:16; —be called together =be called out for military service, passive of
; compare GFMJudg 18:28;assemble, joinJoshua 8:16 (JE),Judges 18:22,23;1 Samuel 14:20; followed byJudges 6:34,35assembled after him, i.e. joined him as his followers.
ImperfectJudges 4:10 3t.;Job 35:9;Imperative2 Samuel 20:4;Infinitive construct2 Samuel 20:5; —
call, call out, ortogether, for military service, followed by accusativeJudges 4:10,13;2 Samuel 20:4,5.
make a cryingJob 35:9 ( in "" clause)
have proclamation madeJonah 3:7.
call out to, or at, followed by accusativeZechariah 6:8 (si vera lectio; Gr queries ?).
( Syriac; compare Biblical Hebrew); —
Perfect3masculine singularDaniel 6:21 ( of voice).
Topical Lexicon
Root Idea and Scope of the VerbThe verb conveys an urgent, often loud appeal for help or justice. It can describe a distressed shout, a summons for aid, or an appeal presented in a formal complaint. About seventy-two occurrences span the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets, revealing consistent theological contours: human need, divine attentiveness, and covenantal intervention.
Representative Old Testament Occurrences
Pentateuch
•Exodus 8:12 – Moses “cried out to the LORD” concerning the frogs, modeling priestly intercession.
•Deuteronomy 22:24 – The unused cry of the betrothed woman underscores the judicial weight of an unheard appeal.
Historical Books
•Judges 3:9; 3:15; 4:3; 6:6-7; 10:12-14 – Israel’s cyclical “crying out” in the judges’ era illustrates repentance leading to deliverance.
•1 Samuel 12:8 – Samuel recounts Israel’s ancestors who “cried out to the LORD,” presenting a prophetic reminder of covenant faithfulness.
•2 Kings 20:3 – Hezekiah “wept bitterly” and “cried out,” showing a king’s personal petition that moved God to extend his life.
•2 Chronicles 14:11 – Asa’s battlefield cry (“O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless…”) highlights reliance on divine strength amid overwhelming odds.
•2 Chronicles 32:20 – Hezekiah and Isaiah “cried out in prayer to heaven,” combining royal and prophetic offices in intercession.
Wisdom Literature
•Job 19:7 – Job protests, “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response,” voicing the perplexity of righteous suffering.
•Job 35:9-12 – Elihu notes that oppressed people “cry out,” yet without repentance their prayers remain unanswered, insisting on a moral dimension in petition.
•Psalm 18:6 – “In my distress I called upon the LORD… He heard my cry,” portraying God as the steadfast rescuer.
Prophets
•Isaiah 19:20 – God will send a savior when the Egyptians “cry out” under oppression, extending the principle beyond Israel.
•Jeremiah 11:11 – Judah will “cry out” but God will not listen, revealing judicial hardening after persistent rebellion.
•Zechariah 7:13 – “As I called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” affirming reciprocity in covenant dialogue.
Patterns of Divine Response
1. Compassionate Deliverance – In most narrative contexts (Judges, Kings, Chronicles), the cry elicits immediate divine action, reinforcing Yahweh’s identity as “a very present help in trouble.”
2. Conditional Hearing – Prophetic texts stress that unrepentant cries (Jeremiah 11:11;Zechariah 7:13) meet divine silence, underscoring moral accountability.
3. Universality – The verb applies to Israel, foreigners (Egypt,Isaiah 19:20), and the marginalized (widows,Deuteronomy 24:15). God’s concern transcends ethnic boundaries while maintaining covenant priorities.
Corporate Versus Individual Appeals
Corporate: Israel’s national laments (Judges 10:10), citywide alarms (2 Chronicles 32:20), and communal fasts employ the verb to unite the people in penitence and hope.
Individual: Personal laments (Hezekiah, Job) demonstrate that solitary voices also reach heaven, validating intimate relationship with God.
Liturgical and Worship Implications
The verb informs the language of lament psalms and suggests a place for loud, earnest petitions within public worship. It justifies vigorous congregational prayer nights, solemn assemblies, and prophetic intercession. Levitical musicians and gatekeepers served as audible watchmen, echoing the same urgency.
Covenantal and Prophetic Messaging
Each “cry” spotlights covenant dynamics: sin leads to oppression; repentance expresses itself in a loud plea; God relents and restores. Prophets leverage this pattern to warn future generations, proving Scripture’s self-consistent testimony of sin, judgment, mercy, and restoration.
Messianic and Eschatological Hints
The repeated motif anticipates the ultimate Deliverer who would hear and answer all righteous cries. The Gospel narratives show crowds “crying out” to Jesus (reflecting the Hebrew background), and Revelation pictures martyrs who “cry out” beneath the altar, awaiting final vindication. The Old Testament verb prepares readers for this climactic hope.
Ministry Applications Today
• Intercessory Prayer – Encourage believers to embrace urgent, vocal supplication, trusting God’s compassionate ear (Psalm 18:6).
• Social Justice – The biblical God hears the oppressed; therefore pastors and churches must respond to contemporary “cries” with advocacy and relief.
• Preaching Repentance – Remind congregations that unrepentant hearts can silence heaven’s response (Zechariah 7:13).
• Worship Design – Incorporate seasons of collective crying out—prayer vigils, responsive readings—to align modern gatherings with biblical precedent.
The verb thus portrays the faithful God who attunes Himself to human desperation, yet who also requires sincerity and obedience. Its narrative, liturgical, and prophetic threads weave a robust theology of prayerful dependence that remains vital for the church’s life and mission.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶזְעַ֥ק אֶזְעַק֙ אֶזְעָ֑ק אֶזְעָ֔ק אזעק בְּזַֽעֲקֵךְ֙ בזעקך הַזְעֶק־ הזעק־ וְזַֽעֲקוּ֙ וְזַעֲק֖וּ וְזַעֲק֗וּ וְזָֽעֲקוּ֙ וְזָעֲק֣וּ וְזָעָֽקָה׃ וְיִזְעֲק֖וּ וְלִזְעֹ֥ק וְנִזְעַ֥ק וַֽיִּזְעֲק֖וּ וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֙ וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֮ וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ וַיִּזְעֲק֥וּ וַיִּזְעֲק֨וּ וַיִּזְעַ֖ק וַיִּזְעַ֛ק וַיִּזְעַ֤ק וַיִּזְעַ֥ק וַיִּזְעַ֨ק וַיִּזְעָ֑קוּ וַיִּזְעָק֔וּךָ וַיִּזָּעֲק֗וּ וַיִּזָּעֵ֣ק וַיִּזָּעֵ֥ק וַיַּזְעֵ֗ק וַיַּזְעֵ֣ק וַיַּזְעֵ֨ק וַתִּזְעַ֖ק וַתִּזְעַ֤ק וָאֶזְעַ֗ק וָאֶזְעַ֣ק וּֽזְעָ֑קוּ וּזְעַקְתֶּם֙ ואזעק וזעקה׃ וזעקו וזעקתם ויזעק ויזעקו ויזעקוך ולזעק ונזעק ותזעק זְעַ֤ק זַֽעֲקִי־ זָעֲק֣וּ זָעֲק֤וּ זָעֲק֥וּ זָעֲקוּ֙ זָעַ֥קְתִּי זעק זעקו זעקי־ זעקתי יִזְעֲק֣וּ יִזְעָ֑קוּ יִזְעָ֔ק יַזְעִ֑יקוּ יזעיקו יזעק יזעקו לְהַזְעִ֣יק להזעיק מִזְּעֹ֖ק מזעק נִֽזְעֲק֔וּ נִזְעָֽקְתָּ׃ נזעקו נזעקת׃ תִּזְעַ֖ק תִּזְעַק֙ תִּזְעָ֑ק תִזְעָ֑ק תזעק ’ez‘aq ’ez‘āq ’ez·‘aq ’ez·‘āq bə·za·‘ă·qêḵ bəza‘ăqêḵ bezaakeCh ezAk haz‘eq- haz·‘eq- hazek lə·haz·‘îq ləhaz‘îq lehazIk miz·zə·‘ōq mizzə‘ōq mizzeOk niz‘āqətā niz‘ăqū niz·‘ā·qə·tā niz·‘ă·qū nizAketa nizaKu tiz‘aq tiz‘āq ṯiz‘āq tiz·‘aq tiz·‘āq ṯiz·‘āq tizAk ū·zə·‘ā·qū ū·zə·‘aq·tem ūzə‘aqtem ūzə‘āqū uzeakTem uzeAku vaezAk vaiyazEk vaiyizAk vaiyizAku vaiyizaKucha vaiyizzaaKu vaiyizzaEk vattizAk velizOk venizAk veyizaKu vezaAkah vezaaKu wā’ez‘aq wā·’ez·‘aq wat·tiz·‘aq wattiz‘aq way·yaz·‘êq way·yiz·‘ă·qū way·yiz·‘ā·qū way·yiz·‘ā·qū·ḵā way·yiz·‘aq way·yiz·zā·‘ă·qū way·yiz·zā·‘êq wayyaz‘êq wayyiz‘aq wayyiz‘ăqū wayyiz‘āqū wayyiz‘āqūḵā wayyizzā‘ăqū wayyizzā‘êq wə·liz·‘ōq wə·niz·‘aq wə·yiz·‘ă·qū wə·zā·‘ā·qāh wə·za·‘ă·qū wə·zā·‘ă·qū wəliz‘ōq wəniz‘aq wəyiz‘ăqū wəzā‘āqāh wəza‘ăqū wəzā‘ăqū yaz‘îqū yaz·‘î·qū yazIku yiz‘āq yiz‘ăqū yiz‘āqū yiz·‘ă·qū yiz·‘ā·qū yiz·‘āq yizAk yizAku za‘ăqî- zā‘aqtî zā‘ăqū za·‘ă·qî- zā·‘ă·qū zā·‘aq·tî zaaki zaAkti zaaKu zə‘aq zə·‘aq zeAk
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