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זַךְ

𐤆𐤊

zak

H2134 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root זכה to be clear, to be pure, to be clean

Definition

Adjective describing something that is pure, clear, or free from admixture or impurity—whether used of physical substances (such as clear oil), clarity of sky or glass, ceremonial or ritual cleanness, or, in some cases, metaphorical purity (as of speech or character). The term primarily conveys the absence of physical or moral contamination, with an emphasis on unadulterated quality.

Semantic Range

pure (of oil or gold), clear (of sky), clean (free from admixture), untainted, free from impurity, metaphorically—innocent or morally pure

Root / Etymology

Root זכה (z-k-h), meaning 'to be clear, to be pure, to be clean.' The adjective זַךְ (zak) is directly derived from this root, indicating the state of being pure or unadulterated. Root meaning centers on clearness or purity, but the adjective specifies quality of the object described as without admixture or defilement.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Israelite ritual and daily life, זַךְ most often describes items intentionally kept free of contamination, such as 'pure oil' for the lampstand (Exodus 27:20) or 'clear sky' (figurative usage). It signifies objective, observable purity rather than ceremonial or cultic cleanness, which is more commonly expressed by טָהוֹר (tahor). Throughout the biblical period, the distinction remained: זַךְ typically refers to a state or substance as unalloyed or unmixed, while טָהוֹר refers to ritual fitness or cleanness, though some overlap exists. English translations often render זַךְ as 'pure,' 'clear,' or 'clean,' but 'pure' best captures the sense of untainted quality, especially in reference to ritual objects. Post-biblical and poetic Hebrew occasionally extends זַךְ metaphorically to moral or spiritual qualities, but such usage in the Hebrew Bible is rare.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָכַךְ; clear; clean, pure.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זכה (z-k-h) — to be clear, to be pure, to be clean

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2135 זָכָה I will be acquitted
H2136 זָכוּ purity
H2137 זְכוּכִית and clear crystal

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2134-03 זָ֛ךְ zakhe HAamsa pure clear, pure 7
H2134-02 זַכָּ֑ה zakah HAafsa pure pure 3
H2134-01 וְ֝/זַ֗ךְ vezakhe HC/Aamsa but as for the pure and pure one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2134-03 Exodus 27:20 זָ֛ךְ zakhe HAamsa pure clear, pure
H2134-02 Exodus 30:34 זַכָּ֑ה zakah HAafsa pure pure
H2134-03 Leviticus 24:2 זָ֛ךְ zakhe HAamsa pure clear, pure
H2134-02 Leviticus 24:7 זַכָּ֑ה zakah HAafsa pure pure
H2134-03 Proverbs 16:2 זַ֣ךְ zakhe HAamsa pure clear, pure
H2134-03 Proverbs 20:11 זַ֖ךְ zakhe HAamsa pure clear, pure
H2134-01 Proverbs 21:8 וְ֝/זַ֗ךְ vezakhe HC/Aamsa but as for the pure and pure one
H2134-03 Job 8:6 זַ֥ךְ zakhe HAamsa pure clear, pure
H2134-03 Job 11:4 זַ֣ךְ zakhe HAamsa pure clear, pure
H2134-02 Job 16:17 זַכָּֽה zakah HAafsa is pure pure
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