4712. metsar
Strong's Lexicon
metsar: Distress, straits, trouble

Original Word: מֵצַר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: metsar
Pronunciation: may-tsar
Phonetic Spelling: (may-tsar')
Definition: Distress, straits, trouble
Meaning: something tight, trouble

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb צָרַר (tsarar), meaning "to bind" or "to be narrow."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent often used in the Septuagint for "metsar" is θλίψις (thlipsis), Strong's Greek 2347, which also means "tribulation" or "distress."

Usage: The Hebrew word "metsar" refers to a state of distress or trouble, often implying a sense of being in a narrow or confined space, both physically and metaphorically. It conveys the idea of being in a difficult situation where options are limited, and pressure is intense.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of "metsar" would have been understood in both physical and emotional terms. Geographically, Israel is a land with many narrow passes and valleys, which could become strategic points of distress during military conflicts. Metaphorically, "metsar" also describes the emotional and spiritual distress experienced by individuals or the nation, often in times of crisis or divine judgment.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from tsarar
Definition
straits, distress
NASB Translation
distress (2), terrors (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מֵצַר noun [masculine] straits, distress; — absolute מִןֿ הַמֵּצַר קָרָאתִי Psalm 118:5; plural הַמְּצָרִים Lamentations 1:3 the distresses, of conquered Judah; construct מְצָרֵי שְׁאוֺל Psalm 116:3 the straits of Sheol, i.e. the worst possible ("" חֶבְלֵימָֿוֶת).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
distress, pain, strait

From qebah; something tight, i.e. (figuratively) trouble -- distress, pain, strait.

see HEBREW qebah

Forms and Transliterations
הַ֭מֵּצַ֥ר הַמְּצָרִֽים׃ המצר המצרים׃ וּמְצָרֵ֣י ומצרי ham·mə·ṣā·rîm ham·mê·ṣar hammêṣar hamməṣārîm hammeTzar hammetzaRim ū·mə·ṣā·rê ūməṣārê umetzaRei
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Englishman's Concordance
Psalm 116:3
HEB: חֶבְלֵי־ מָ֗וֶת וּמְצָרֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל מְצָא֑וּנִי
NAS: encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol
KJV: compassed me, and the pains of hell
INT: the cords of death and the terrors of Sheol came

Psalm 118:5
HEB: מִֽן־ הַ֭מֵּצַ֥ר קָרָ֣אתִי יָּ֑הּ
NAS: From [my] distress I called
KJV: upon the LORD in distress: the LORD
INT: at From distress called the LORD

Lamentations 1:3
HEB: הִשִּׂיג֖וּהָ בֵּ֥ין הַמְּצָרִֽים׃ ס
NAS: her In the midst of distress.
KJV: overtook her between the straits.
INT: have overtaken the midst of distress

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4712
3 Occurrences


ham·mê·ṣar — 1 Occ.
ham·mə·ṣā·rîm — 1 Occ.
ū·mə·ṣā·rê — 1 Occ.















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