H2199 H2199
To cry out in distress or supplication; in the Nifal, to be summoned or assembled; in the Hifil, to call together or proclaim aloud.
The verb za'aq (זָעַק) is the desperate shout of the oppressed — a parallel form of tsa'aq (צָעַק) that carries the same raw urgency. Its sixty Qal occurrences trace a recurring pattern across Judges: Israel sins, is oppressed, 'cries out' to the LORD, and a deliverer is raised up (Judg 3:9, 15; 6:6–7; 10:10). Spanish consistently renders this with 'clamar' (to cry aloud), while German uses 'schreien' (to scream/shout), both capturing the vocal intensity. But za'aq also has an organizational dimension: in the Nifal, people 'are summoned together' — Gideon's clan is 'called to arms' behind him (Judg 6:34–35), and the men of the city 'are gathered' in pursuit (Judg 18:22). The Hifil takes the next step: actively 'summoning' troops or 'proclaiming' a message, as Barak musters his forces (Judg 4:10, 13) and Nineveh's king issues his decree (Jonah 3:7).
Senses
1. cry out, call for help — The Qal sense: to cry out in distress, anguish, or supplication — calling aloud to God or to another person for help. This is the dominant usage at 60 occurrences, forming the backbone of the Judges deliverance cycle: Israel cries out under oppression (Judg 3:9, 15; 6:6), the Israelites cry out to God at the Red Sea (Exod 2:23), and Tamar cries out after her violation (2 Sam 13:19). Spanish 'clamar/clamaron,' French 'crier,' and German 'schreien' all converge on the vocalized urgency. The cry is always public, audible, and directed — not an internal groan but a shout that demands a response. 60×
AR["فَ-صَرَخُوا", "فَيَصْرُخُ", "وَ-اصْرُخوا", "وَ-اصْرُخُوا", "وَ-صَرَخوا", "وَ-صَرَخَ", "وَ-صَرَخَتْ", "وَ-صَرَخُوا", "وَصَرَخَت", "وَيَصْرُخُونَ"]·ben["আর-কাঁদলেন", "আর-চিৎকার-করল", "আর-চীৎকার-কর", "আর-তাঁরা-কাঁদলেন", "এবং-কাঁদল", "এবং-চিৎকার-কর", "এবং-চিৎকার-করবে", "এবং-চিৎকার-করল", "এবং-চিৎকার-করলেন", "এবং-চেঁচিয়ে-উঠল", "ও-কাঁদবে-তারা", "ও-কাঁদল", "ও-ক্রন্দন-করলেন"]·DE["und-schreien", "und-schreit", "und-schrie", "und-schrie-heraus", "und-sie-schrie-heraus"]·EN["and-cried-out", "and-cry", "and-cry-out", "and-shall-cry-out", "and-they-cried-out", "and-they-will-cry"]·FR["[ויזעקו]", "et-cria", "et-cria-dehors", "et-crier", "et-ils-cria-dehors"]·heb["ו-זעק", "ו-זעקו", "ו-יזעק", "ו-יזעקו", "ו-צעקה", "ו-תזעק"]·HI["और-चिल्लयि", "और-चिल्लाए", "और-चिल्लाएंगे", "और-चिल्लाओ", "और-चिल्लाया", "और-चीखे", "और-दुहाई-दी", "और-दुहाई-दो", "और-दोहाई", "और-दोहाई-देंगे", "और-पुकारा"]·ID["Dan-berserulah", "Dan-mereka-berseru", "dan-berseru", "dan-berserulah", "dan-berteriak", "dan-berteriak-teriaklah", "dan-berteriaklah", "dan-mereka-akan-berseru", "dan-mereka-berseru", "maka-berteriaklah"]·IT["[ויזעקו]", "e-essi-gridò-fuori", "e-gridare", "e-gridate", "e-gridò", "e-gridò-fuori"]·jav["Lan-sesambat", "lajeng-sami-sesambat", "lan-bengok-a", "lan-mbengok", "lan-nangis", "lan-nguwuh", "lan-piyambakipun-sami-badhé-nangis", "lan-sami-nangis", "lan-sami-njrérit", "lan-sesambat"]·KO["그리고-그들이-부르짖었다", "그리고-그들이-부르짖으리라", "그리고-부르짖겠다-그들이", "그리고-부르짖었다", "그리고-부르짖으니라", "그리고-부르짖으라", "그리고-부르짖으리라", "그리고-부르짖으며", "그리고-부르짗었다", "그리고-소리질렀다", "그리고-올라갔다", "그리고-외쳤다", "그리하여-부르짖었다"]·PT["E-clamaram", "e-clamai", "e-clamaram", "e-clamarão", "e-clamou", "e-gritou"]·RU["И-воззвали", "И-возопили", "И-закричат", "и-воззвали", "и-возопили", "и-возопите", "и-возопиют", "и-возопият", "и-вопите", "и-вопияли", "и-закричал", "и-закричала", "и-закричали", "и-кричал"]·ES["Y-clamaron", "y-clamad", "y-clamaron", "y-clamarán", "y-clamó", "y-gritó"]·SW["na-akapiga-kelele", "na-mlieni", "na-piga-kelele", "na-wakamlilia", "na-wakapaza-sauti", "na-wakapiga-kelele", "na-watakapolia", "na-watalia", "wayiּzakwּ"]·TR["Ve-feryat-ettiler", "ve-bağıracak", "ve-bağırdı", "ve-bağırdılar", "ve-feryat-edecekler", "ve-feryat-edin", "ve-feryat-ettiler", "ve-haykırın"]·urd["اور-فریاد-کرو", "اور-فریاد-کی", "اور-فریاد-کیا", "اور-پکارا", "اور-پکارے", "اور-چلاؤ", "اور-چلائی", "اور-چلائیں-گے", "اور-چلائے", "اور-چلّائے", "اور-چیخا", "اور-چیخی", "اور-چیخیں-گے", "اور-چیخے"]
Exod 2:23, Judg 3:9, Judg 3:15, Judg 6:6, Judg 6:7, Judg 10:10, 1 Sam 4:13, 1 Sam 5:10, 1 Sam 7:9, 1 Sam 8:18, 1 Sam 12:8, 1 Sam 12:10 (+38 more)
2. be called together, assemble — The Nifal sense: to be summoned, called together, or assembled in response to a call. When the Spirit of the LORD comes upon Gideon and he blows the trumpet, Abiezer 'is summoned' behind him (Judg 6:34); the men of Ephraim and Manasseh 'are called together' (Judg 6:35); the men of the city 'are gathered' to pursue the Danites (Judg 18:22–23). Spanish shifts from 'clamar' to 'convocar' (to convoke) in the passive voice, and French uses 'assembler,' revealing that the cry has become an instrument of collective mobilization rather than personal distress. Joshua 8:16 shows this in a military context — the people of Ai 'are summoned' to pursue Israel. 6×
AR["صَرَخُوا", "صَرَخْتَ", "فَ-صاحَ", "وَ-اجْتَمَعَ", "وَ-صَرَخَ"]·ben["আর-জড়ো-করা-হল", "এবং-ডাকা-হল", "জড়ো-হল", "জড়ো-হলে"]·DE["du-waren-rief-together", "und-er-war-summoned", "und-war-summoned", "und-waren-summoned", "waren-rief-together"]·EN["and-he-was-summoned", "and-was-summoned", "and-were-summoned", "were-called-together", "you-were-called-together"]·FR["et-il-fut-summoned", "et-étaient-summoned", "et-était-summoned", "tu-étaient-appela-together", "étaient-appela-together"]·heb["ו-זעק", "ו-נזעק", "ו-נזעקו", "נזעקו", "נזעקת"]·HI["और-इकट्ठा-हुआ", "और-पुकारे-गए", "और-बुलाया-गया", "चिल्लाए", "तू-चिल्लाया"]·ID["Dan-berserulah", "berteriak", "dan-berkumpul-lah", "dan-dipanggilkanlah", "engkau-berteriak"]·IT["e-egli-era-convocò", "e-fu-summoned", "e-furono-summoned", "furono-chiamò-insieme", "tu-furono-chiamò-insieme"]·jav["Lan-sambat", "dipun-kempalaken", "lan-surak", "lan-tinimbalan", "panjenengan-kempal"]·KO["그리고-부르짖었다", "그리고-소리쳤다", "그리고-소집되었다", "모였느냐", "모였다"]·PT["E-reuniu-se", "e-foi-convocado", "reuniram-se", "te-reuniste?", "¶ E-gritaram"]·RU["И-созвались", "и-был-созван", "и-закричал", "созван-ты", "созваны-были"]·ES["Y-fue-convocado", "Y-fueron-convocados", "fueron-llamados", "gritaste?", "y-fue-convocado"]·SW["na-akapiga-kelele", "na-wakaitwa", "unapiga-kelele", "walikusanyika"]·TR["Gideonu", "Ve-toplandı", "Ve-çağrıldılar", "bağırdın", "toplandılar", "ve-geçtiler"]·urd["اور-بُلائے-گئے", "اور-نعرہ-لگایا", "اور-پکارے-گئے", "بلائے-گئے", "بلایا-گیا-تُو-نے"]
3. summon, call together — The Hifil causative sense: to summon, call together, or muster people for a purpose. Barak 'summoned' Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh (Judg 4:10, 13); David commanded Amasa to 'call together' the men of Judah within three days (2 Sam 20:4–5). Spanish 'convocar' (to convoke) and French 'appeler ensemble' (to call together) mark the causative agency clearly. The subject actively causes the assembly to happen — a step beyond the Nifal, where the gathering simply occurs. 4×
AR["اِجْمَعْ", "لِ-يَجْمَعَ", "وَ-جَمَعَ"]·ben["এবং-ডাকল", "ডাকতে", "ডাকো-"]·DE["rufe-zusammen", "und-summoned", "zu-rufe-zusammen"]·EN["and-summoned", "call-together", "to-call-together"]·FR["appelle-ensemble", "et-summoned", "à-appelle-ensemble"]·heb["ה-זעק", "ו-זעק", "ל-הזעיק"]·HI["और-बुलाया", "बुला", "बुलाने-के-लिए"]·ID["Dan-memanggillah", "kumpulkanlah-", "untuk-mengumpulkan"]·IT["a-chiama-insieme", "chiama-insieme", "e-summoned"]·jav["Lan-nimbali", "supados-ngundang", "undangen"]·KO["그리고-소집하였다", "불러-모으려고", "불러서-모으라-"]·PT["E-convocou", "convoca", "para-convocar"]·RU["И-созвал", "созови-", "созывать"]·ES["Y-convocó", "convócame-", "para-convocar"]·SW["kuwaalika", "na-akawaita", "waalike"]·TR["ve-topladı", "çağır-", "çağırmak-için"]·urd["اور-بلایا", "بلا", "بلانے-کو"]
4. proclaim, cry aloud — The Hifil extended sense: to proclaim aloud, announce, or cause a message to go forth with authority. In Jonah 3:7 the king of Nineveh 'caused it to be proclaimed' — issuing a royal decree. Job 35:9 describes the oppressed who 'cry out' under the weight of injustice, and Zechariah 6:8 has the angelic figure 'crying out' a divine declaration. Spanish uses 'proclamar' and 'hacer proclamar' (to cause to be proclaimed), distinguishing this public-announcement function from the private cry of distress in sense 1. The authority behind the cry, rather than the anguish within it, defines this usage. 3×
AR["فَ-صَرَخَ", "فَصَرَخَ", "يَصرُخونَ"]·ben["এবং-ঘোষণা-করল", "এবং-ডাকলেন", "চিৎকার-করে"]·DE["schrie", "und-schrie"]·EN["and-he-cried-out", "and-he-proclaimed", "they-cry-out"]·FR["crier", "et-crier"]·heb["ו-הזעיק", "ו-יזעק", "יזעיקו"]·HI["और-उसने-पुकारा", "और-पुकारा", "दोहाई-देते-हैं"]·ID["Dan-ia-memanggil", "Dan-ia-menyerukan", "mereka berteriak"]·IT["e-gridare", "essi-cry-fuori"]·jav["lan-nguwuh", "lan-nyuwun-kula", "piyambak-ipun-mbengoki"]·KO["그리고-외쳐-말했으니라", "그리고-외치셨다", "부르짖고"]·PT["E-chamou", "E-proclamou", "clamam"]·RU["И-провозгласил", "вопиют", "и-воззвал"]·ES["E-hizo-proclamar", "Y-me-llamó", "claman"]·SW["na-akaniita", "na-akapiga-kelele", "wanalia"]·TR["Ve-bağırdı", "Ve-duyurdu", "bağırırlar"]·urd["اور-پکارا", "اور-پکارا-مجھے", "وہ چیختے ہیں"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [זָעַק] vb. cry, cry out, call (‖ form of צעק q.v.; Arabic زَعَقَ, Aramaic ܙܥܰܩ )— Qal Pf. 3 fs. וְזָעָ֑קָה 2 S 13:19; 1 s. זָעַקְתִּי ψ 142:6; 3 pl. זָֽעֲקוּ Ju 6:7 + 3 times; וְזָעֲקוּ consec. Ju 11:11 + 2 times; 2 mpl. וּזְעַקְתֶּם consec. 1 S 8:18; Impf. 3 ms. יִזְעָ֑ק Is 15:5; וַיִּזְעַק 1 S 7:9 + 5 times, etc., Imv. זְעַק Ez 21:17; fs. זַעֲקִי־ Is 14:31, cf. Je 48:20 Kt; וְזַעֲקוּ Ju…