Original Word: זָ֫רַע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: zera
Phonetic Spelling: (zeh'-rah)
Short Definition: descendants זֶ֫רַע noun masculine^{Deuteronomy 28:38} sowing, seed, offspring (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic זְרַע, ; Phoenician זרע; Zinjirli id.; Arabic seed-produce, seed; Ethiopic Assyrian zêru, cultivated land, Belser^{BAS ii. 130,} compare Arabic ) — 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 27:16 b, 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 27:16 a, 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 (c. 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 As zêru; "" כרמים), הָאָרֶץ ׳ז Leviticus 27:30 ("" מְּרִיעֵֿץ; 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 ᵑ6 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 q. v. 3b).

4 seed = off spring:

a. rarely of animals, collective Genesis 3:15; Genesis 7:3 (both J). Usu.

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 t. 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. 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 = 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, בָּנוֺת1Samuel 2:21); children and grandchildren Genesis 46:6,7 (P).

e. family Genesis 17:12 (P; compare Assyrian zêr bit abišu Asrb^{Annals iii. 10}); note especially of royal family הַמֶּלֶךְ ׳ז 1 Kings 11:14; הַמַּמְלָכָה ׳ז 2 Kings 11:1 2Chronicles 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; 2Chronicles 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 (ᵑ6 ᵐ5 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); מִמִּי זַרְעֲךָ וּמִמִּי זֶרַע זַרְעֲךָ 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).

child, fruitful, seedtime, sowing- time

From zara'; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity -- X carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing- time.

see HEBREW zara'

בְּזַרְע֖וֹ בְּזַרְעָ֣ם בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ בזרעו בזרעך בזרעם הַ֫זָּ֥רַע הַזֶּ֔רַע הַזֶּ֗רַע הַזֶּ֙רַע֙ הַזָּ֑רַע הזרע וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ וְ֝זַרְעָ֗ם וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙ וְזֶ֖רַע וְזֶ֣רַע וְזֶ֤רַע וְזֶ֥רַע וְזֶרַע֮ וְזַרְע֔וֹ וְזַרְע֖וֹ וְזַרְעֲךָ֥ וְזַרְעֵיכֶ֥ם וְזַרְעֵךְ֙ וְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ וְזַרְעָ֔ם וָזֶ֖רַע וּ֠לְזַרְעוֹ וּֽבְזַרְעֲךָ וּֽבְזַרְעֲךָ֖ וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֖ וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֗ וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֥ וּבְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ וּלְזַרְע֖וֹ וּלְזַרְע֗וֹ וּלְזַרְע֣וֹ וּלְזַרְע֥וֹ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֣ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֥ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֨ וּלְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ וּלְזַרְעָ֑ם וּלְזַרְעָ֖ם וּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥ וּמִזֶּ֥רַע וּמִזַּרְעֽוֹ׃ ובזרעך ובזרעך׃ והאלמנה וזרע וזרעו וזרעיכם וזרעך וזרעך׃ וזרעם ולזרעו ולזרעך ולזרעך׃ ולזרעם ומזרע ומזרעו׃ ומזרעך זֶ֔רַע זֶ֖רַע זֶ֗רַע זֶ֙רַע֙ זֶ֚רַע זֶ֜רַע זֶ֡רַע זֶ֣רַע זֶ֤רַע זֶ֥רַע זֶ֧רַע זֶ֨רַע זֶ֭רַע זֶרַע֒ זַ֭רְעָם זַ֭רְעוֹ זַרְע֑וֹ זַרְע֔וֹ זַרְע֖וֹ זַרְע֛וֹ זַרְע֥וֹ זַרְעֲךָ֔ זַרְעֲךָ֖ זַרְעֲךָ֗ זַרְעֲךָ֙ זַרְעֲךָ֜ זַרְעֲךָ֧ זַרְעֲכֶ֔ם זַרְעֲכֶ֖ם זַרְעֲכֶ֗ם זַרְעִ֖י זַרְעִ֛י זַרְעֵ֑ךְ זַרְעֵ֔ךְ זַרְעֵ֣ךְ זַרְעֶ֑ךָ זַרְעֶ֔ךָ זַרְעֶֽךָ׃ זַרְעָ֑הּ זַרְעָ֑ם זַרְעָ֔ם זַרְעָ֜ם זַרְעָ֤ם זַרְעֽוֹ׃ זַרְעוֹ֒ זַרְעוֹ־ זָ֑רַע זָֽרַע׃ זרע זרע׃ זרעה זרעו זרעו־ זרעו׃ זרעי זרעך זרעך׃ זרעכם זרעם כְּזֶ֤רַע כִּזְרַע־ כזרע כזרע־ לְזֶ֙רַע֙ לְזֶ֛רַע לְזֶ֥רַע לְזֶ֨רַע לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ לְזַרְע֑וֹ לְזַרְע֥וֹ לְזַרְעֲךָ֔ לְזַרְעֲךָ֖ לְזַרְעֲךָ֗ לְזַרְעֲךָ֥ לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם לְזָ֑רַע לזרע לזרעו לזרעך לזרעכם מִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֖ מִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֞ מִזֶּ֙רַע֙ מִזֶּ֣רַע מִזֶּ֤רַע מִזֶּ֧רַע מִזֶּ֨רַע מִזַּרְע֖וֹ מִזַּרְע֗וֹ מִזַּרְע֛וֹ מִזַּרְעָֽם׃ מִזַּרְעוֹ֙ מזרע מזרעו מזרעך מזרעם׃ ḇə·zar·‘ă·ḵā bə·zar·‘ām bə·zar·‘ōw ḇəzar‘ăḵā bəzar‘ām bəzar‘ōw bezarAm bezarO haz·zā·ra‘ haz·ze·ra‘ hazZara hazzāra‘ hazZera hazzera‘ kə·ze·ra‘ keZera kəzera‘ kiz·ra‘- kizra kizra‘- lə·zā·ra‘ lə·zar·‘ă·ḵā lə·zar·‘ă·ḵem lə·zar·‘ōw lə·ze·ra‘ ləzar‘ăḵā ləzar‘ăḵem ləzar‘ōw leZara ləzāra‘ leZaracha lezaraChem lezarO leZera ləzera‘ miz·zar·‘ă·ḵā miz·zar·‘ām miz·zar·‘ōw miz·ze·ra‘ mizzar‘ăḵā mizzar‘ām mizzar‘ōw mizzaraCha mizzarAm mizzarO mizZera mizzera‘ ū·ḇə·zar·‘ă·ḵā ū·ḇə·zar·‘e·ḵā ū·lə·zar·‘ă·ḵā ū·lə·zar·‘ām ū·lə·zar·‘e·ḵā ū·lə·zar·‘ōw ū·miz·zar·‘ă·ḵā ū·miz·zar·‘ōw ū·miz·ze·ra‘ ūḇəzar‘ăḵā ūḇəzar‘eḵā ūləzar‘ăḵā ūləzar‘ām ūləzar‘eḵā ūləzar‘ōw ulezaraCha ulezarAm ulezarEcha ulezarO ulzaraCha ūmizzar‘ăḵā ūmizzar‘ōw umizzaraCha umizzarO umizZera ūmizzera‘ uvezaraCha uvezarEcha vaZera vehaalmaNah vezaraCha vezarAm vezareCh vezarEcha vezareiChem vezarO vezeRa wā·ze·ra‘ wāzera‘ wə·hā·’al·mā·nāh wə·zar·‘ă·ḵā wə·zar·‘ām wə·zar·‘e·ḵā wə·zar·‘ê·ḵem wə·zar·‘êḵ wə·zar·‘ōw wə·ze·ra‘ wəhā’almānāh wəzar‘ăḵā wəzar‘ām wəzar‘êḵ wəzar‘eḵā wəzar‘êḵem wəzar‘ōw wəzera‘ zā·ra‘ zar‘āh zar‘ăḵā zar‘ăḵem zar‘ām zar‘êḵ zar‘eḵā zar‘î zar‘ōw zar‘ōw- zar·‘ă·ḵā zar·‘ă·ḵem zar·‘āh zar·‘ām zar·‘e·ḵā zar·‘êḵ zar·‘î zar·‘ōw zar·‘ōw- Zara zāra‘ zaraCha zaraChem zarAh zarAm zarEch zarEcha zarI zarO Zarom zarov ze·ra‘ Zera zera‘Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts