Tsarah צָרָה

Tsarah (Hebrew צָרָה, Strong's H6869) is a Hebrew feminine noun meaning “distress”. It occurs 73 times in 72 verses of the Old Testament.

Definition

H6869B: distress

H6869A: dearth

H6869C: vexer

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Hebrew (based on the abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Verses

Every verse with Tsarah, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Genesis

• Genesis 35:3
  And let us arise, and go up to Beth–el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”
• Genesis 42:21
  And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

Deuteronomy

• Deuteronomy 31:17
  Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’
• Deuteronomy 31:21
  And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”

Judges

• Judges 10:14
  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

1 Samuel

• 1 Samuel 1:6
  And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously.
• 1 Samuel 10:19
  And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”
• 1 Samuel 26:24
  And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

2 Samuel

• 2 Samuel 4:9
  And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

1 Kings

• 1 Kings 1:29
  And the king sware, and said, As the Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

2 Kings

• 2 Kings 19:3
  And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.

2 Chronicles

• 2 Chronicles 15:6
  And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God afflicted them with all kinds of adversity.
• 2 Chronicles 20:9
  If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’

Nehemiah

• Nehemiah 9:27
  Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.
• Nehemiah 9:37
  And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.

Job

• Job 5:19
  He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
• Job 27:9
  Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?

Psalms

• Psalm 9:9
  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
• Psalm 10:1
  Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
• Psalm 20:1
  The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
• Psalm 22:11
  Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
• Psalm 25:17
  The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress.
• Psalm 25:22
  Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress.
• Psalm 31:7
  I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;I will be glad and rejoice in Your loving devotion, for You have seen my affliction; You have known the anguish of my soul.
• Psalm 34:6
  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.
• Psalm 34:17
  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.
• Psalm 37:39
  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
• Psalm 46:1
  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
• Psalm 50:15
  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
• Psalm 54:7
  For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eyes have stared down my foes.
• Psalm 71:20
  Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.
• Psalm 77:2
  In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.
• Psalm 78:49
  He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity— a band of destroying angels.
• Psalm 81:7
  Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
• Psalm 86:7
  In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.In the day of my distress I call on You, because You answer me.
• Psalm 91:15
  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.
• Psalm 116:3
  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.
• Psalm 120:1
  In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.
• Psalm 138:7
  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.
• Psalm 142:2
  I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
• Psalm 143:11
  Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.

Proverbs

• Proverbs 1:27
  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
• Proverbs 11:8
  The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
• Proverbs 12:13
  The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
• Proverbs 17:17
  A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
• Proverbs 21:23
  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
• Proverbs 24:10
  If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
• Proverbs 25:19
  Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

Isaiah

• Isaiah 8:22
  And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.
• Isaiah 30:6
  The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.
• Isaiah 33:2
  O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.
• Isaiah 37:3
  And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
• Isaiah 46:7
  They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
• Isaiah 63:9
  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
• Isaiah 65:16
  That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth, and whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My sight.

Jeremiah

• Jeremiah 4:31
  For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.For I hear a cry like a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child— the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands to say, “Woe is me, for my soul faints before the murderers!”
• Jeremiah 6:24
  We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
• Jeremiah 14:8
  O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are You like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays but a night?
• Jeremiah 15:11
  The Lord said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.The LORD said: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress.
• Jeremiah 16:19
  O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all.
• Jeremiah 30:7
  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.
• Jeremiah 49:24
  Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.Damascus has become feeble; she has turned to flee. Panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her like a woman in labor.
• Jeremiah 50:43
  The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.

Daniel

• Daniel 12:1
  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Obadiah

• Obadiah 1:12
  But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress.
• Obadiah 1:14
  Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.Nor should you stand at the crossroads to cut off their fugitives, nor deliver up their survivors in the day of their distress.

Jonah

• Jonah 2:2
  And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice.

Nahum

• Nahum 1:7
  The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
• Nahum 1:9
  What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. Affliction will not rise up a second time.

Habakkuk

• Habakkuk 3:16
  When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.

Zephaniah

• Zephaniah 1:15
  That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

Zechariah

• Zechariah 10:11
  And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).