Lexical Summary tsach: Bright, clear, pure Original Word: צַח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance clear, dry, plainly, white From tsachach; dazzling, i.e. Sunny, bright, (figuratively) evident -- clear, dry, plainly, white. see HEBREW tsachach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsachach Definition dazzling, glowing, clear NASB Translation clearly (1), dazzling (2), scorching (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צַח adjective dazzling, glowing, clear; — חֹם צַח Isaiah 18:4 glowing heat; רוּחַ צַח Jeremiah 4:11 glowing wind; דּוֺדִי צַח וְאָדוֺם Songs 5:10 my beloved is dazzling (white) and ruddy (compare Lamentations 4:7); feminine plural לְדַבֵּר צַחוֺת Isaiah 32:4 to speak clear (words), clearly. Topical Lexicon Overview צַח conveys an idea of brightness, clarity, or dazzling whiteness that can be either pleasantly radiant or fiercely searing. Its four appearances range through poetry, prophecy, and lament, allowing the word to illuminate themes of beauty, revelation, and judgment. Occurrences 1. Song of Songs 5:10 – the Shulammite extols her beloved as “dazzling and ruddy.” Literary Background and Imagery Song of Songs places צַח in the intimate realm of marital love. The bride sees her bridegroom as radiantly set apart, a portrait of covenantal devotion. The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah employ the same word to convey very different moods. Isaiah juxtaposes quiet divine observation with the relentless glare of midsummer heat, while Jeremiah paints a parched, withering wind pressing upon unrepentant Judah. In Isaiah 32 the clarity belongs to speech—a reversal of Babel-like confusion when righteousness reigns. Taken together, the word functions as a chiaroscuro: the glistening highlight that defines form whether in tenderness, revelation, or wrath. The brightness may attract or scorch, depending on one’s stance toward God. Theological Themes Purity and Excellence Song of Songs 5:10 connects dazzling radiance with excellence “among ten thousand,” anticipating language later used of the Messiah whose purity is unsurpassed (Hebrews 7:26). The moral brilliance of David’s greater Son stands out within the human throng. Revelatory Clarity Isaiah 32:4 promises a day when hesitant tongues will speak “clearly,” pointing toward restored comprehension under righteous leadership. With the advent of Pentecost (Acts 2:4-11) clarity of speech becomes a sign of the Spirit’s outpouring. Divine Surveillance and Timing Isaiah 18:4 describes the LORD quietly watching “like clear heat.” The intensity is present, but restrained until the harvest moment. The imagery endorses the doctrine of divine patience: judgment is certain, yet executed in perfect timing (2 Peter 3:9-10). Judgment’s Scorching Heat Jeremiah’s “scorching wind” forecasts exile. The same brightness that exposes can also consume. Scripture thus holds together goodness and severity (Romans 11:22). צַח becomes a verbal bridge between gracious illumination and righteous retribution. Christological Foreshadowing The beloved who is “dazzling and ruddy” embodies a type: radiant in purity, yet marked by blood-like ruddy coloration, reminiscent of the Lamb “who loved us and released us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). The juxtaposition of brightness and sacrificial redness invites contemplation of the transfigured Christ, whose garments became “white as light” (Matthew 17:2) even as He moved inexorably toward the cross. Practical and Ministry Applications Personal Holiness Believers are summoned to “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7), cultivating a life that reflects the dazzling purity hinted by צַח. Confession and repentance keep spiritual vision unclouded. Preaching and Teaching Isaiah 32:4 encourages communicators of the Word to pursue clear, fluent proclamation. Clarity is not a mere stylistic preference but a promised fruit of the Spirit’s restorative work. Pastoral Care Amid Suffering Jeremiah 4:11 alerts shepherds that seasons of searing trial can be divinely appointed. The scorching wind, though painful, separates husk from grain, driving the flock toward deeper reliance on grace. Missional Watchfulness Isaiah 18:4 models patient observation of God’s unfolding plan among the nations. Ministry leaders can emulate this posture—vigilant, prayerful, trusting the Lord of the harvest to act in His time. In every context, צַח reminds the reader that divine light both beautifies and judges, calling the faithful to embrace the radiance of Christ and to reflect it into a darkened world. Forms and Transliterations צַ֤ח צַח֙ צָחֽוֹת׃ צח צחות׃ ṣā·ḥō·wṯ ṣaḥ ṣāḥōwṯ tzach tzaChotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Songs 5:10 HEB: דּוֹדִ֥י צַח֙ וְאָד֔וֹם דָּג֖וּל NAS: My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, KJV: My beloved [is] white and ruddy, INT: my beloved is dazzling and ruddy Outstanding Isaiah 18:4 Isaiah 32:4 Jeremiah 4:11 4 Occurrences |
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