A. Nouns.
Tsârâh (צָרָה, Strong's #6869), “distress; straits.” The 70 appearances of tsârâh occur in all periods of biblical literature, although most occurrences are in poetry (poetical, prophetical, and wisdom literature).
Tsârâh means “straits” or “distress” in a psychological or spiritual sense, which is its meaning in Gen. 42:21 (the first occurrence): “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.…”
Tsâr (צָר, Strong's #6862), “distress.” This word also occurs mostly in poetry. In Prov. 24:10, tsâr means “scarcity” or the “distress” caused by scarcity. The emphasis of the noun is sometimes on the feeling of “dismay” arising from a distressful situation (Job 7:11). In this usage the word tsâr represents a psychological or spiritual status. In Isa. 5:30, the word describes conditions that cause distress: “… If one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow …” (cf. Isa. 30:20). This nuance appears to be the most frequent use represented by tsâr.
B. Verb.
Tsârar (צָרַר, Strong's #6887), “to wrap, tie up, be narrow, be distressed, be in pangs of birth.” This verb, which appears in the Old Testament 54 times, has cognates in Aramaic, Syriac, Akkadian, and Arabic. In Judg. 11:7, the word carries the meaning of “to be in distress.”
C. Adjective.
Tsâr (צָר, Strong's #6862), “narrow.” Tsâr describes a space as “narrow” and easily blocked by a single person (Num. 22:26).