Lexical Summary
tsar: Adversary, enemy, distress, trouble
Original Word:צַר
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:tsar
Pronunciation:tsar
Phonetic Spelling:(tsar)
KJV: adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble
Word Origin:[fromH6887 (צָּרַר - To bind)]
1. narrow
2. (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble)
3. also a pebble (as in H6864)
4. (transitive) an opponent (as crowding)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
adversary, affliction, anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe,
Or tsar {tsawr}; fromtsarar; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. Trouble); also a pebble (as intsor); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding) -- adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
see HEBREWtsarar
see HEBREWtsor
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. ; — absolute
2 Kings 6:1 +;
Numbers 22:26 +; feminine
Proverbs 23:27; —
narrow,
Numbers 22:26,
2 Kings 6:1too narrow for us, compare
Isaiah 49:20 (of land of Judah after exile);
Proverbs 23:27 (figurative of harlot; i.e. rescue difficult; "" );
Isaiah 59:19like a contracted (and hence swift, powerful)
river (simile of ; Klo , Che
Hpt , both 'of Egypt');
Job 41:7 (of scaly back of crocodile), usually closely joined (as)
with tight seal ( Me Bi Hoffm Bu Du
with seal of flint, but why specify material?);
Proverbs 24:10thy strength will be
narrow, limited (si vera lectio, compare Toy).
II. ; — absoluteJob 15:24 +, also with articleHosea 5:15 +,Psalm 4:2 +; —straits, distressIsaiah 5:30;Job 15:24;Psalm 32:7;Psalm 60:13;Psalm 108:13Psalm 119:143;Job 38:23, compareIsaiah 26:16,Psalm 4:2;Job 7:11distress of my spirit;Isaiah 30:20;Isaiah 63:9 usuallyhe ()had distress (reading Qr), but , Du CheHpt and others ,no messenger and (or) angel, (but) his own face, etc. Instead of suffix directly appended, suffix is used (only after ):in my distressPsalm 18:7 =2 Samuel 22:7;Psalm 66:14, soPsalm 59:17;Psalm 102:3;Deuteronomy 4:30 (probably originally meant as , or [infinitive], Dr; so)Isaiah 25:4; 2Chronicles 15:4,Hosea 5:15;Psalm 107:6;Psalm 107:13;Psalm 107:19;Psalm 107:28, also (after )Psalm 106:44 —1 Samuel 2:32 is corrupt, compare Dr; Job 36:19.
III.68Numbers 10:9 ; — absoluteAmos 3:11 +, even with articleNumbers 10:9, but alsoEsther 7:4;Zechariah 8:10 +; pluralLamentations 1:7; constructEzra 4:1 +Isaiah 9:10 (but read probably or , compare Di-Kit CheHpt; al. ),Jeremiah 48:5 (strike out Hi Gie),Ezekiel 30:16 (but Sm , so Berthol; Co , so Toy; Krae ); suffixPsalm 3:2,Ezekiel 39:23,Deuteronomy 32:27, etc.; —adversary, foe,Amos 3:11;Genesis 14:20;Numbers 10:9 (P),Numbers 24:8 (JE)Deuteronomy 32:27;Deuteronomy 33:7;Joshua 5:13 (JE),2 Samuel 24:13;Isaiah 9:10 (see above),Zechariah 8:10;Ezra 4:1;Nehemiah 4:5;Esther 7:6 (), + 21 t., +Psalm 3:2;Psalm 13:5;Psalm 27:2;Psalm 78:42, + 13 t. Psalms, + (of s foes)Psalm 78:66;Psalm 97:3; + (of 's foes) alsoIsaiah 1:24;Isaiah 26:11;Isaiah 59:18;Isaiah 64:1;Jeremiah 46:10;Nahum 1:2;Deuteronomy 32:41,43;Job 19:11. —Jeremiah 48:5;Ezekiel 30:16 see above
IV. ; —Isaiah 5:28 (simile of horses' hoofs; read perhaps ).
(√of following, compare Biblical Hebrew II. , III. ).
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Meaning and Emphasisצַר appears about one-hundred-eleven times, almost always portraying a constricting pressure—whether an external foe or an inward anguish. The term gathers three intertwined ideas: (1) an adversary who oppresses, (2) the experience of being hemmed in, and (3) a call for divine intervention. Scripture consistently shows that whenever Israel, or an individual believer, faces a צַר, God alone is the adequate answer.
Occurrences in Torah
•Numbers 10:9 first binds the word to covenant hope: “When you go to war in your own land against an adversary who oppresses you, sound the alarm with the trumpets; then you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.”
• Deuteronomy repeatedly warns that unfaithfulness will multiply “adversaries” (Deuteronomy 32:27, 32:30, 32:41-43). Even here, however, צַר drives Israel back to the gracious Warrior who vindicates His name.
• InGenesis 42:21 the brothers recall Joseph’s “distress,” showing that צַר can describe personal anguish as well as military threat.
Occurrences in Historical Books
•Judges 2:14;1 Samuel 2:32;1 Kings 8:33 portray national oppression that follows covenant violation. Solomon therefore prays, “When Your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against You… then hear in heaven” (1 Kings 8:33-34). The root idea of constriction pushes the nation toward repentance and renewed dependence on the LORD.
• Repeated battlefield scenes (for example2 Kings 6:23;2 Chronicles 32:7-8) set the human צַר opposite the heavenly armies, underscoring that deliverance never rests on numbers or strategy but on the fear of God.
Occurrences in Psalms and Wisdom Literature
David and the psalmists personalize the term:
–Psalm 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and my cry came before Him.”
–Psalm 44:5 “Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our adversaries.”
–Psalm 119:157 “Many are my persecutors and my foes, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.”
The Wisdom books transform military imagery into lessons of humility:Proverbs 24:17 warns against gloating when a צַר falls, reminding the righteous that victory is God’s gift, not human superiority.
Prophetic Usage
The prophets apply צַר to the nations God raises against His people (Isaiah 1:24;Jeremiah 30:14;Nahum 1:9). Yet they also proclaim ultimate reversal.Isaiah 63:4 records, “For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption had come.”Lamentations 1 uses the word to confess sin while still pleading for mercy.Zephaniah 3:19 announces the eschatological hope: “Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors; I will save the lame and gather the outcast.”
Theological Threads
1. Covenant Retribution: צַר often functions as the rod of divine discipline, pressing Israel back to covenant fidelity.
2. Divine Kingship: The word’s frequency in prayers and songs treats God as the supreme Warrior who both employs and destroys earthly adversaries.
3. Sanctifying Pressure: Personal distress turns into a forge for faith, producing repentance (Psalms 25:17-18) and deeper obedience.
4. Hope of Reversal: Every mention of an adversary carries an implicit promise that God will finally vindicate the righteous and judge the oppressor.
Messianic Implications
Psalm 22 opens with individual anguish yet ends with worldwide praise, foreshadowing Messiah’s own experience of being surrounded by “bulls of Bashan” and “dogs.” At the cross Jesus underwent the ultimate צַר so that believers might inherit unassailable peace.Isaiah 53 follows the same pattern: the Suffering Servant is “oppressed” but through that oppression brings justification to many.
Pastoral and Devotional Applications
• Spiritual Warfare: Believers should expect adversaries but fight them with the whole armor of God, confident that “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
• Prayer in Tight Places: Psalmic usage encourages honest lament and bold petition. The constriction is real, yet every occurrence presumes God hears.
• Corporate Solidarity: National texts teach the church to intercede for one another, recognizing that sin in the camp can invite adversaries, while unified repentance secures deliverance.
Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes
Though צַר itself does not appear in Greek, its themes reemerge in thlipsis (“tribulation”) and echthros (“enemy”).Luke 1:71 celebrates Messiah who will save “from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,” echoing the ancient promise ofNumbers 10:9. Paul applies the pressure motif to sanctification: “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed” (2 Corinthians 4:8).
Conclusion
צַר traces a canonical arc from Egypt’s brick kilns to the cosmic victory of Christ: oppression permitted, distress expressed, enemies judged, people delivered, and God glorified. Every appearance of the word therefore calls readers to humility, faith, and confident hope in the LORD who still saves “from all our foes.”
Forms and Transliterations
בְּצַ֣ר בְצָרָֽיו׃ בַּ֭צָּר בַּצַּ֣ר בַּצַּ֥ר בַּצַּר־ בצר בצר־ בצריו׃ הַצַּר֙ הַצָּ֔ר הַצָּ֛ר הצר וְצָרֵיהֶ֥ם וְצָרָ֑י וְצֹרְרֵ֥י וצרי וצריהם וצררי כְּצָ֔ר כְצָרָֽיו׃ כַּצַּ֣ר כצר כצריו׃ לְצָרֵֽינוּ׃ לְצָרֶ֑יךָ לְצָרַ֗י לְצָרָ֔י לְצָרָ֔יו לצרי לצריו לצריך לצרינו׃ מִצַּ֪ר מִצָּ֑ר מִצָּרֵ֑ינוּ מִצָּרַ֔י מִצָּרָ֔יו מִצָּרָ֖יו מִצָּרָֽיו׃ מצר מצרי מצריו מצריו׃ מצרינו צַ֖ר צַ֣ר צַ֥ר צַ֫ר צַר־ צָ֑ר צָ֔ר צָ֖ר צָ֗ר צָ֝רֵיהֶ֗ם צָ֝רָ֗ה צָֽרֵיהֶ֔ם צָֽר׃ צָרִ֓י ׀ צָרִ֔ים צָרֵ֑ימוֹ צָרֵ֕ינוּ צָרֵ֗ינוּ צָרֵ֣ינוּ צָרֵ֥י צָרֵֽינוּ׃ צָרֵיהֶ֑ם צָרֵיהֶ֔ם צָרֵיהֶֽם׃ צָרֶ֑יךָ צָרֶ֖יךָ צָרֶ֜יךָ צָרֶ֤יהָ צָרֶ֥יךָ צָרֶיךָ֮ צָרַ֣י צָרַ֥י צָרַ֥יִךְ צָרָ֑י צָרָ֑יו צָרָ֗יו צָרָ֥יו צָרָֽיִךְ׃ צָרָֽי׃ צָרָֽיו׃ צר צר־ צר׃ צרה צרי צרי׃ צריה צריהם צריהם׃ צריו צריו׃ צריך צריך׃ צרים צרימו צרינו צרינו׃ baṣ·ṣar baṣ·ṣār baṣ·ṣar- baṣṣar baṣṣār baṣṣar- batzTzar Batztzor ḇə·ṣā·rāw bə·ṣar bəṣar ḇəṣārāw beTzar chetzaRav haṣ·ṣar haṣ·ṣār haṣṣar haṣṣār hatzTzar kaṣ·ṣar kaṣṣar katzTzar ḵə·ṣā·rāw kə·ṣār kəṣār ḵəṣārāw keTzar lə·ṣā·rāw lə·ṣā·ray lə·ṣā·rāy lə·ṣā·re·ḵā lə·ṣā·rê·nū ləṣārāw ləṣāray ləṣārāy ləṣāreḵā ləṣārênū letzaRai letzaRav letzaReicha letzaReinu miṣ·ṣā·rāw miṣ·ṣā·ray miṣ·ṣā·rê·nū miṣ·ṣar miṣ·ṣār miṣṣar miṣṣār miṣṣārāw miṣṣāray miṣṣārênū mitzTzar mitztzaRai mitztzaRav mitztzaReinu ṣā·ra·yiḵ ṣā·rā·yiḵ ṣā·rāh ṣā·rāw ṣā·ray ṣā·rāy ṣā·rê ṣā·re·hā ṣā·rê·hem ṣā·re·ḵā ṣā·rê·mōw ṣā·rê·nū ṣā·rî ṣā·rîm ṣar ṣār ṣar- ṣārāh ṣārāw ṣāray ṣārāy ṣārayiḵ ṣārāyiḵ ṣārê ṣārehā ṣārêhem ṣāreḵā ṣārêmōw ṣārênū ṣārî ṣārîm Tzar tzaRah tzaRai tzaRav tzaRayich tzaRei tzaReicha tzaReiha tzareiHem tzaReimov tzaReinu tzaRi tzaRim vetzaRai vetzaRav vetzareiHem vetzoreRei wə·ṣā·rāy wə·ṣā·rê·hem wə·ṣō·rə·rê wəṣārāy wəṣārêhem wəṣōrərê
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