Original Word: צֹרֶךְ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tsorek
Pronunciation: tso'-rek
Phonetic Spelling: (tso'-rek)
KJV: need
NASB: need
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to need]

1. need

need

From an unused root meaning to need; need -- need.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a need
NASB Translation
need (1).

[צֹרֶךְ] noun [masculine] need (Aramaic); — suffix כְּכָלצָֿרְכֶּ֑ךָ2Chron 2:15 according to all thy need, compare Ecclus 8:9 #NAME?

צרע (√ of following; compare perhaps Arabic throw down, prostrate; Sabean צֿרע humble oneself, DHM^{Hofm. No. 6, 1. 8} Mordtm^{Him. Inschr. 71}; verbs denominative in Late Hebrew ᵑ7).

Overview

The Hebrew term צֹרֶךְ portrays the notion of “need” or “requirement.” Scripture employs it once, yet that solitary occurrence provides an illuminating window into God’s design for meeting human need through covenant partnership and faithful stewardship.

Biblical Context in 2 Chronicles 2:16

During preparations for the first Temple, King Solomon solicits cedar and cypress from King Hiram of Tyre. Hiram replies,

“We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and we will float them in rafts by sea to Joppa; and you may take them up to Jerusalem.” (2 Chronicles 2:16)

Here צֹרֶךְ defines the precise quantity of timber essential to fulfill the construction plans that Solomon had received from David and, ultimately, from the LORD (1 Chronicles 28:12).

Historical Setting: Solomon’s Temple and International Cooperation

Solomon’s massive building endeavor required resources unavailable within Israel’s borders. Lebanon’s famed cedars symbolized durability and grandeur, making them ideal for a house “exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands” (2 Chronicles 2:9). By agreeing to supply whatever Solomon “needed,” Hiram exemplified gentile cooperation in Israel’s redemptive story. This collaboration foreshadows later eras when outsiders bring their treasures to Zion (Isaiah 60:5–11).

Theological Themes: Divine Provision and Human Need

1. God knows and supplies specific needs. Solomon’s request proceeded from detailed divine blueprints; every resource was accounted for in advance (1 Kings 5:5–6).
2. Provision often arrives through human agency. Hiram’s craftsmen and rafters served as instruments of the LORD’s generosity, demonstrating that believers may receive help from unexpected quarters.
3. Need does not negate abundance. Solomon’s “need” was great, yet the supply was greater; Hiram pledges “as many as you need,” echoing the principle that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

Intercanonical Resonances

While צֹרֶךְ appears only here, Scripture repeatedly addresses need in broader terms:
• Exodus 12:4 depicts households adjusting the Passover lamb “according to each man’s eating; you shall make your count for the lamb,” teaching proportionate provision.
• Nehemiah 5:14–18 records Nehemiah forgoing the governor’s allowance and supplying “what was needed” for daily feasting, modeling sacrificial leadership.
• Philippians 4:19 assures that “my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Together these passages reinforce that genuine need, as opposed to carnal excess, receives divine attention.

Practical Ministry Insights

1. Assess actual requirements. Solomon does not hoard wood; he calculates the precise quantities. Ministry planning today likewise demands clear-eyed evaluation rather than vague aspirations.
2. Cultivate partnerships. Hiram’s willingness illustrates the value of alliances built on integrity and mutual benefit (2 Chronicles 2:10). Mission endeavors often advance through comparable cooperation across cultural lines.
3. Move resources wisely. Floating logs to Joppa, then hauling them uphill to Jerusalem, shows logistical prudence. Modern ministries should steward transportation, technology, and finance with equal care.
4. Trust God yet plan responsibly. Solomon’s confidence in divine provision did not excuse negligence; rather, it energized diligent preparation.

Christological Fulfillment

Solomon’s Temple prefigures Jesus Christ, “One greater than the temple” (Matthew 12:6). Just as cedar from Lebanon met the Temple’s need, Christ supplies every spiritual need for the living temple, His Church (1 Peter 2:5). He is the cornerstone, furnishing the structure with grace gifts (Ephesians 4:7–16) so that believers “lack nothing” (James 1:4).

Application for Worship and Stewardship

Worship thrives when needs are openly acknowledged and faithfully met. Congregations honoring God through building projects, missionary support, or benevolence should adopt Solomon’s pattern: define the need, pray for supply, partner widely, and attribute success to the LORD alone. Transparent handling of resources cultivates trust and yields thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:12).

Summary

Though צֹרֶךְ appears but once, it encapsulates a comprehensive biblical conviction: God supplies every legitimate need of His people so that His purposes flourish. From the cedars of Lebanon to the gifts of the Spirit, the LORD equips His servants, inviting them to participate in His generous economy for the glory of His name.

צָרְכֶּ֔ךָ צרכך ṣā·rə·ke·ḵā ṣārəkeḵā tzareKechaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts