to cry out
za.aq denotes an urgent outcry, especially a plea directed to God, but also cries of alarm, grief, or public summons.
The verb most often marks an urgent appeal directed to God amid oppression, danger, sin, or anticipated disaster. It also describes loud cries of alarm, grief, pain, or protest, while its Hiphil and Niphal forms occur in clauses about summoning or being called out.
Senses in use
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Urgently appealing to God · dominant
In 1 Samuel 7:9, the Qal sequential imperfect occurs as Samuel appeals to the LORD on Israel's behalf after offering the lamb, and the APB renders the clause "he cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him." In Exodus 2:23, Israel's cry rises to God from forced service; in Jeremiah 11:11, people cry to God amid distress but are not heard.
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Crying aloud in alarm, grief, or pain · common
In 1 Samuel 28:12, the Qal sequential imperfect marks the woman's loud reaction when she sees Samuel; the APB renders that she "cried out with a great voice." In 2 Samuel 13:19, Tamar goes away crying after tearing her garment, while Ezekiel 27:30 places the cry alongside dust on heads and ashes.
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Calling people out or summoning them · occasional
In Judges 4:10, the Hiphil sequential imperfect stands in Barak's action that brings Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; the APB renders "Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali." In Joshua 8:16, the Niphal sequential imperfect describes all the people in Ai being called out to pursue, and Judges 18:22 describes nearby men being roused.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB commonly uses "cried out" for personal appeals and distress cries, while it uses "summoned," "called out," or "roused" in gathering clauses. Because the APB is a whole-verse translation, these renderings show the clauses' presentation rather than fixed English equivalents.