זֶרַע
Transliteration
zeraʿ
Pronunciation
zeh'-rah
Part of Speech
masculine noun
Root Word (Etymology)
From זָרַע (H2232)
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 582a

Strong’s Definitions

זֶרַע zeraʻ, zeh'-rah; from H2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity:—× carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.


KJV Translation Count — Total: 229x

The KJV translates Strong's H2233 in the following manner: seed (221x), child (2x), carnally (with H7902) (2x), carnally (1x), fruitful (1x), seedtime (1x), sowing time (1x).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 229x
The KJV translates Strong's H2233 in the following manner: seed (221x), child (2x), carnally (with H7902) (2x), carnally (1x), fruitful (1x), seedtime (1x), sowing time (1x).
  1. seed, sowing, offspring

    1. a sowing

    2. seed

    3. semen virile

    4. offspring, descendants, posterity, children

    5. of moral quality

      1. a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)

    6. sowing time (by meton)

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
זֶרַע zeraʻ, zeh'-rah; from H2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity:—× carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.
STRONGS H2233: Abbreviations
זֶ֫רַע noun masculineDeuteronomy 28:38 sowing, seed, offspring (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic H2234 זְרַע, IfRz; Phoenician זרע; Zinjirli id.; Arabic زَرْعً seed-produce, seed; Ethiopic ዘርእ፡ Assyrian zêru, cultivated land, BelserBAS ii. 130, compare Arabic زَرْعَةً) — absolute ז׳ Genesis 47:23 =; זָ֑רַע Genesis 1:29 +; construct זֶרַע Isaiah 5:10 +; זְרַעֿ Numbers 11:7; suffix זַרְעִי 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 24:22; זַרְעֲךָ Deuteronomy 11:10 +; זַרְעֶ֑ךָ Ecclesiastes 11:6 +; etc.; plural suffix זַרְעֵיכֶם 1 Samuel 8:15; —
1. literal:
a. a sowing הַשָּׂדֶה לְז׳ Genesis 47:24 (J; + אָכְלְכֶם; otherwise Leviticus 27:16b, see below 2c); לֹא מְקוֺם ז׳ Numbers 20:5 no place for sowing (J E; + וּתְאֵנָה וְגֶפֶן וְרִמּוֺן); compare שְׂדֵה ז׳ Ezekiel 17:5 a field suitable for sowing; hence
b. sowing as regularly recurring at its season Genesis 8:22 (J; || קָצִיר, + קֹר וָחֹם וְקַיִץ וָחֹרֶף וְיוֺם וָלַיְלָה), Leviticus 26:5 (H; || דַּיִשׁ, בָּצִיר; — compare Amos 9:13 below 2a).
2. seed:
a. literally, sown, to raise crops for food, usually corn (wheat, barely, etc.) Genesis 47:19, 23 (J; compare Genesis 47:14f.), Numbers 24:7 (JE); נָתַן לַֹזּרֵעַ ז׳ Isaiah 55:10 (|| לֶחֶם), Deuteronomy 28:38 (רַב ז׳), Leviticus 26:16 (H; with זָרַע), Leviticus 27:16a, חֹמֶר שְׂעֹרִים ז׳ Leviticus 27:16b (both P), compare Isaiah 5:10.
b. figurative, of idolatry of Judah Isaiah 17:11 (|| קציר); of fortunes of Zion מֶשֶׁךְ הַזּ׳ Psalm 126:6 the dropping of seed, i.e. the proper quantity for sowing (opposed to אֲלֻמֹּת); Jeremiah 35:7 (with זָרַע, || כֶּרֶם לֹא תִטָּ֔עוּ), compare Jeremiah 35:9 (|| כרם, שׂדה); מְטַר ז׳ Isaiah 30:23 (with זָרַע, || לֶחֶם תְּבוּאַתּ הָאֲדָמָה); also Deuteronomy 11:10 (with זָרַע), Ecclesiastes 11:6 (with id.); זֵרוּעַ ז׳ Leviticus 11:37, compare Leviticus 11:38 (both P); as yielding the crop תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 14:22 the product of thy seed, compare d. below; וְנִגַּשׁ תוֺרֵשׁ בַּקּוֺצֵר וְדֹרֵךְ עֲנָבִים בְּמשֵׁךְ הַזּ׳ Amos 9:13, in figure of rapid and plentiful growth in the coming time; הָאָרֶץ ז׳ producing a vine Ezekiel 17:5, of growth and prosperity of Israel; הַזּ׳ Malachi 2:3, read perhaps הַזְּרֹעַ (compare VB).
c. seed as product; the manna is compare with גַּד ז׳, coriander seed Numbers 11:7 (JE), Exodus 16:31 (P); seed of herbs and trees Genesis 1:11 (twice in verse); Genesis 1:12 (twice in verse); Genesis 1:29 (twice in verse) (all P). Especially
d. seed as corn-product, corn-crop, so (although not quite clearly) Deuteronomy 22:9 (with זָרַע; || תְּבוּאַת הַכָּ֑רֶם); plural 1 Samuel 8:15 (perhaps better arable lands, compare above Assyrian zêru; || כרמים), הָאָרֶץ ז׳ Leviticus 27:30 (|| פְּרִי־עֵץ; otherwise Genesis 47:24, compare above 1a); שִׁחֹר ז׳ Isaiah 23:3 (|| קְצִיר יְאוֺר); בַּמְּגוּרָה הַעוֺד הַזּ׳ Haggai 2:19 (|| גֶּפֶן, תְּאֵנָה, רִמּוֺן, עֵץ הַזַּיִת); יָשִׁו֯ב זַרְעֶ֑ךָ וְגָרְנְךָ יֶאֱסֹף Job 39:12 (of harvest); so perhaps כְּבֵית סָאתַיִם ז׳ 1 Kings 18:32.
e. זֶרַע הַשָּׁלוֺם הַגֶּפֶן Zechariah 8:12, read perhaps שׁלוֺם הַזּ׳ the crop is security (= secure), so Or and others; > Ew Hi and others who translate הַשּׁ׳ ז׳ the growth of peace, making הַגֶּמֶּן appositive — Verbs used with ז׳ in these senses are: — usually זַרַע Genesis 1:11; Leviticus 26:16; Jeremiah 35:7 +; הִפְרִיחַ Isaiah 17:11; נָתַן בְּ = plant, sow Ezekiel 17:5; נָתַן yield Isaiah 55:10; מָשַׁךְ Amos 9:13.
3. seed = semen virile, וְנִזְרְעָה זָ֑רַע Numbers 5:28, and she shall be made pregnant with seed; usually שִׁכְּבַתזֿ׳, flow of semen Leviticus 22:4 (H), Leviticus 15:16, 32 (P; all with תֵּצֵא), Leviticus 15:17 (P; with הָיָה); as accusative modi שׁכב ז׳ אתאִֿשָּׁה שׁ׳ Leviticus 19:20 (H), Leviticus 15:18; Numbers 5:13 (both P); so also נתן שְׁכָבְתּוֺ לְזרע Leviticus 18:20 (לְ genitives); compare בְּהֵמָה אָדָם וז׳ ז׳ Jeremiah 31:27 (as 2nd accusative after זָרַע which see 3b).
4. seedoff spring:
a. rarely of animals, collective Genesis 3:15; Genesis 7:3 (both J). Usually
b. of mankind, coll.=descendants, posterity; seed of the woman Genesis 3:15 (J); seed of the patriarchs (especially Abraham) Genesis 12:17; Genesis 13:15, 16 (twice in verse); Genesis 16:10; Genesis 22:17 (twice in verse); Genesis 22:18; Genesis 24:7; Genesis 26:3, 4 (3 times in verse); Genesis 26:24; Genesis 28:13, 14 (twice in verse); Genesis 32:13 (all J), Genesis 15:13, 18; Exodus 32:13 (twice in verse); Exodus 33:1 (all J E), Genesis 21:12; Joshua 24:3 (both E; in both promised seed of Abraham restricted to line of Isaac), Deuteronomy 11:9; Deuteronomy 34:4; Nehemiah 9:8; = a son as involving posterity Genesis 15:3, 5 (JE) compare below; phrase זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם Deuteronomy 1:8, compare Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 10:15, so P, Genesis 17:7 (twice in verse); Genesis 17:8, 9, 10, 19; Genesis 35:12; Genesis 48:4; זִרְעֲךָ אִתָּךְ Genesis 28:4 (P; compare Numbers 18:19); see also below c.
c. seed (=posterity) of other individuals Genesis 21:13 (E; of Ishmael) Genesis 24:60; Genesis 48:19 (both J), Numbers 14:24 (JE), Leviticus 21:21; Leviticus 22:3, 4 (all H), Numbers 17:5 (P), 1 Samuel 20:42 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 24:22; 2 Samuel 4:8; 1 Kings 2:33 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 11:39; 2 Kings 5:27; Jeremiah 29:32; Ezekiel 43:19; Job 5:25 (|| צֶאֱצָאֶיךָ), Job 21:8 (|| id.); especially of seed of David as anointed to reign Psalm 18:51 [Psalm 18:50] = 2 Samuel 22:51 (|| לִמְשִׁיחוֺ), as sitting on throne Jeremiah 33:21, compare Jeremiah 33:22; Jeremiah 33:26, Psalm 89:5; Psalm 89:30; Psalm 89:37; of Jehoiachin Jeremiah 22:28, 30, Jehoiakim Jeremiah 36:31 (compare Jeremiah 36:30); of child (son) as involving posterity Genesis 38:8, 9 (twice in verse) (of Er's seed by Onam); Genesis 48:11 (all J), compare Genesis 19:32, 31 (J), 2 Samuel 7:12; Ruth 4:12; Leviticus 21:15 (H); phrase זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם of seed of Noah and his sons Genesis 9:9; of Aaron Exodus 28:43; of Phinehas Numbers 25:13 (all P); of David 1 Chronicles 17:11; לְזַרְעוֺ לְדֹרֹתָם Exodus 30:21 (P), compare Leviticus 21:17 (H; both of Aaron), see also b above ז׳, of seed of righteous, especially Psalms: — Psalm 25:13; Psalm 37:25, 26; Psalm 69:37; Psalm 102:29 (|| בָּנִים), Psalm 112:2 (|| דּוֺר ישׁרים), compare Psalm 22:31 (on text see Che); of wicked Psalm 21:11; Psalm 37:28.
d. specifically of a particular child (son) אַחֵר ז׳ Genesis 4:25 (J); אֲנָשִׁים ז׳ 1 Samuel 1:11; of children Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:2; Leviticus 20:34; Leviticus 22:13 (all H), 1 Samuel 2:20 (compare בָּנִים, בָּנוֺת 1 Samuel 2:21); children and grandchildren Genesis 46:6, 7 (P).
e.family Genesis 17:12 (P; compare Assyrian zêr bit abišu AsrbAnnals iii. 10); note especially of royal family הַמֶּלֶךְ ז׳ 1 Kings 11:14; הַמַּמְלָכָה ז׳ 2 Kings 11:1 2 Chronicles 22:10; הַמְּלוּכָה ז׳ 2 Kings 25:25 = Jeremiah 41:1; Ezekiel 17:13; Daniel 1:3; =pedigree בית אבותם וְזַרְעָם Ezra 2:59 = Nehemiah 7:61; =one's nation, as of same blood Esther 10:3 (|| עַם). — Some verbs used with ז׳ in these senses are: — נָתַן, God subject Genesis 15:3; Ruth 4:12 (followed by מִן of woman); שִׂים 1 Samuel 2:20; with man as subject נתן Genesis 38:9; הֵקִים Genesis 38:8; חִיָּה ז׳, keep alive, or give life to, of animals Genesis 7:3; of woman Genesis 19:32, 34 (followed by מִן of man).
f. especially as name for people of Israel, seed of Abraham Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7 (|| עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל), Jeremiah 33:26; Psalm 105:6 (|| בְּנֵי יעקִב); of Israel or Jacob 2 Kings 17:20; Nehemiah 9:2 (|| בני ישׂראל Nehemiah 9:1), Isaiah 43:5; Isaiah 45:19, 25; Jeremiah 31:36, 37; Jeremiah 33:26; Psalm 22:24 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 16:13 (|| בני יעקב); so בֵּית ישׂראל ז׳ Jeremiah 23:8; Ezekiel 44:22 ( Manuscripts Co strike out בית); בית ז׳ יעקב Ezekiel 20:5; in Esther. הַיְהוּדִים ז׳ Esther 6:13; so of Edom (seed of Esau) Jeremiah 49:10, compare מִוֶּרע מָדַי Daniel 9:1.
g. seed of Israel (or Jacob, or the people), is used also, by (later) prophets, of future generations, in addressing the people: — Deuteronomy 28:46, 59; Deuteronomy 30:6, 19; Deuteronomy 31:21, compare Numbers 18:19 (P; לְזַרְעֲךָ אִתָּ֑ךְ, || וּלְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנוֺתֶיךָ), Jeremiah 30:10 = Jeremiah 46:27 (Jacob and Israel here = people), Psalm 106:27; || צֶאֱצָא(יך) Isaiah 44:3 (Jacob and Jeshurun), Isaiah 48:19, compare Isaiah 61:9; also Jeremiah 7:15; Isaiah 54:3; Isaiah 66:22 (|| שִׁמְכֶם); זַרְעֲךָ זֶרַע וּמִפִּי זַרְעֲךָ מִפִּי Isaiah 59:21; of Jews (יהודים) Esther 9:27, 28, 31.
5. seed as marked by moral quality=persons (or community) of such a quality; transition to this through such cases as those of בְּרוּכֵי י׳ ז׳ Isaiah 65:23 (|| צֶאֱצָאִים), compare Isaiah 61:9; Isaiah 65:9; הַקֹּדֶשׁ ז׳ Ezra 9:2 (of Israel), compare Isaiah 53:10; note, in good sense צַדִּיקִים ז׳ Proverbs 11:21 (opposed to רַע); אֱמֶת ז׳ Jeremiah 2:21 (|| שׂוֺרֵק); אלהים ז׳ Malachi 2:15; — קֹדֶשׁ ז׳ Isaiah 6:13 is a gloss; — in bad sense מְרֵעִים ז׳ Isaiah 1:4 community of evil-doers (|| גּוֺיחֹֿטֵא, עַם כֶּבֶד עָוֺן, בָּנִים מַשְׁחִיתִים), Isaiah 14:20; מְנָאֵף ז׳ Isaiah 57:3 (|| בני עֹנֲנָה); שָֿׁ֑קֶר ז׳ Isaiah 57:4 (|| יִלְדֵיפֶֿשַׁע).
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
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References

Genesis

Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:12; Genesis 1:29; Genesis 1:29; Genesis 3:15; Genesis 3:15; Genesis 4:25; Genesis 7:3; Genesis 7:3; Genesis 8:22; Genesis 9:9; Genesis 12:17; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 13:16; Genesis 15:3; Genesis 15:3; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 15:13; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 16:10; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 17:8; Genesis 17:9; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 17:12; Genesis 17:19; Genesis 19:31; Genesis 19:32; Genesis 19:32; Genesis 19:34; Genesis 21:12; Genesis 21:13; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 24:7; Genesis 24:60; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 26:24; Genesis 28:4; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 28:14; Genesis 32:13; Genesis 35:12; Genesis 38:8; Genesis 38:8; Genesis 38:9; Genesis 38:9; Genesis 46:6; Genesis 46:7; Genesis 47:14; Genesis 47:19; Genesis 47:23; Genesis 47:23; Genesis 47:24; Genesis 47:24; Genesis 48:4; Genesis 48:11; Genesis 48:19

Exodus

Exodus 16:31; Exodus 28:43; Exodus 30:21; Exodus 32:13; Exodus 33:1

Leviticus

Leviticus 11:37; Leviticus 11:38; Leviticus 15:16; Leviticus 15:17; Leviticus 15:18; Leviticus 15:32; Leviticus 18:20; Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 19:20; Leviticus 20:2; Leviticus 21:15; Leviticus 21:17; Leviticus 21:21; Leviticus 22:3; Leviticus 22:4; Leviticus 22:4; Leviticus 22:13; Leviticus 26:5; Leviticus 26:16; Leviticus 26:16; Leviticus 27:16; Leviticus 27:16; Leviticus 27:16; Leviticus 27:30

Numbers

Numbers 5:13; Numbers 5:28; Numbers 11:7; Numbers 11:7; Numbers 14:24; Numbers 17:5; Numbers 18:19; Numbers 18:19; Numbers 20:5; Numbers 24:7; Numbers 25:13

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1:8; Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 10:15; Deuteronomy 11:9; Deuteronomy 11:10; Deuteronomy 11:10; Deuteronomy 14:22; Deuteronomy 22:9; Deuteronomy 28:38; Deuteronomy 28:38; Deuteronomy 28:46; Deuteronomy 28:59; Deuteronomy 30:6; Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 31:21; Deuteronomy 34:4

Joshua

Joshua 24:3

Ruth

Ruth 4:12; Ruth 4:12

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 2:20; 1 Samuel 2:20; 1 Samuel 2:21; 1 Samuel 8:15; 1 Samuel 8:15; 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 24:22; 1 Samuel 24:22

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 4:8; 2 Samuel 7:12; 2 Samuel 22:51

1 Kings

1 Kings 2:33; 1 Kings 11:14; 1 Kings 11:39; 1 Kings 18:32

2 Kings

2 Kings 5:27; 2 Kings 11:1; 2 Kings 17:20; 2 Kings 25:25

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 16:13; 1 Chronicles 17:11

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 20:7; 2 Chronicles 22:10

Ezra

Ezra 2:59; Ezra 9:2

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 7:61; Nehemiah 9:1; Nehemiah 9:2; Nehemiah 9:8

Esther

Esther 6:13; Esther 9:27; Esther 9:28; Esther 9:31; Esther 10:3

Job

Job 5:25; Job 21:8; Job 39:12

Psalms

Psalms 18:50; Psalms 21:11; Psalms 22:24; Psalms 22:31; Psalms 25:13; Psalms 37:25; Psalms 37:26; Psalms 37:28; Psalms 89:5; Psalms 89:30; Psalms 89:37; Psalms 105:6; Psalms 106:27; Psalms 112:2; Psalms 126:6

Proverbs

Proverbs 11:21

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 11:6; Ecclesiastes 11:6

Isaiah

Isaiah 1:4; Isaiah 5:10; Isaiah 5:10; Isaiah 6:13; Isaiah 14:20; Isaiah 17:11; Isaiah 17:11; Isaiah 23:3; Isaiah 30:23; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 43:5; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 45:19; Isaiah 45:25; Isaiah 48:19; Isaiah 53:10; Isaiah 54:3; Isaiah 55:10; Isaiah 55:10; Isaiah 57:3; Isaiah 57:4; Isaiah 59:21; Isaiah 61:9; Isaiah 61:9; Isaiah 65:9; Isaiah 65:23; Isaiah 66:22

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 2:21; Jeremiah 7:15; Jeremiah 22:28; Jeremiah 22:30; Jeremiah 23:8; Jeremiah 29:32; Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 31:27; Jeremiah 31:36; Jeremiah 31:37; Jeremiah 33:21; Jeremiah 33:22; Jeremiah 33:26; Jeremiah 33:26; Jeremiah 33:26; Jeremiah 35:7; Jeremiah 35:7; Jeremiah 35:9; Jeremiah 36:30; Jeremiah 36:31; Jeremiah 41:1; Jeremiah 46:27; Jeremiah 49:10

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 17:5; Ezekiel 17:5; Ezekiel 17:5; Ezekiel 17:13; Ezekiel 20:5; Ezekiel 43:19; Ezekiel 44:22

Daniel

Daniel 1:3; Daniel 9:1

Amos

Amos 9:13; Amos 9:13; Amos 9:13

Haggai

Haggai 2:19

Zechariah

Zechariah 8:12

Malachi

Malachi 2:3; Malachi 2:15