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זוּלָה

𐤆𐤅𐤋𐤄

zûwlâh

H2108 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

Preposition and conjunction meaning 'except,' 'besides,' or 'apart from.' Used to denote exclusion, separation, or exception from a set or group. Semantically, it functions to indicate that something is set apart or excluded from the rest.

Semantic Range

except, besides, apart from, other than, save, but, aside from

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root זוּל (z-w-l), meaning 'to be cheap, insignificant, contemptible, to treat lightly,' with the suffix -ָה forming a noun or prepositional construct. However, in this lexical form, זוּלָה operates primarily as a particle with prepositional/conjunctive function.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, זוּלָה occurs chiefly in poetic or elevated register (e.g., Psalms, Job), introducing exceptions or emphasizing exclusive relationships (e.g., 'there is none besides you'). While the root meaning involves cheapness or contempt, the form זוּלָה loses these pejorative senses and functions grammatically as a preposition/conjunction. English translations render it as 'except,' 'beside,' or 'other than,' which generally reflects its biblical usage, although phrases like 'there is none besides you' can have theological resonance in English not implicit in the Hebrew. It is distinct from אַךְ (ʾakh, 'only,' 'surely') and רַק (raq, 'only,' 'except') in that זוּלָה tends to highlight separation or exclusivity. In post-biblical and later Hebrew, גִּרְעָה (gir‘āh) becomes more common for 'exclusion,' and זוּלָה acquires new connotations in Modern Hebrew as 'except' or, colloquially, 'but.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זוּל; probably scattering, i.e. removal; used adverbially, except; beside, but, only, save.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

זול (zûwl) — to shake (out), to make light, to pour, to scatter

Root זול to be cheap, to be insignificant, to treat lightly
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2107 זוּל the ones who treat lightly

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2108-04 זוּלָתִ֥י zulati HR except apart from me except 9
H2108-03 זוּלָתֶ֑/ךָ zulatekha HR/Sp2ms besides you apart from you apart from you 5
H2108-01 זוּלַ֖ת zulat HR except apart from except 1
H2108-02 זוּלָתָ֖/הּ zulatah HR/Sp3fs besides it apart from her apart from her 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2108-04 Deuteronomy 1:36 זֽוּלָתִ֞י zulati HR except apart from me except for me
H2108-04 Deuteronomy 4:12 זוּלָתִ֥י zulati HR except apart from me except
H2108-04 Joshua 11:13 זוּלָתִ֛י zulati HC except apart from me except
H2108-02 1 Samuel 21:10 זוּלָתָ֖/הּ zulatah HR/Sp3fs besides it apart from her apart from her
H2108-03 2 Samuel 7:22 זֽוּלָתֶ֔/ךָ zulatekha HR/Sp2ms besides you apart from you besides you
H2108-04 1 Kings 3:18 זוּלָתִ֥י zulati HR besides apart from me except for me
H2108-04 1 Kings 12:20 זוּלָתִ֥י zulati HR except apart from me except
H2108-01 2 Kings 24:14 זוּלַ֖ת zulat HR except apart from except
H2108-03 Isaiah 26:13 זֽוּלָתֶ֑/ךָ zulatekha HR/Sp2ms besides you apart from you apart from you
H2108-04 Isaiah 45:5 זוּלָתִ֖/י zulati HR/Sp1cs besides-me apart from me besides me
H2108-04 Isaiah 45:21 זוּלָתִֽ/י zulati HR/Sp1cs besides Me apart from me apart from me
H2108-03 Isaiah 64:3 זוּלָ֣תְ/ךָ֔ zulatekha HR/Sp2ms besides you apart from you apart from you
H2108-04 Hosea 13:4 זֽוּלָתִ/י֙ zulati HR/Sp1cs except me apart from me apart from me
H2108-04 Psalms 18:32 זוּלָתִ֥/י zulati HR/Sp1cs except me apart from me apart from me
H2108-03 Ruth 4:4 זוּלָֽתְ/ךָ֙ zulatekha HR/Sp2ms besides you apart from you apart from you
H2108-03 1 Chronicles 17:20 זוּלָתֶ֑/ךָ zulatekha HR/Sp2ms besides you apart from you besides you
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