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זְנוּת

𐤆𐤍𐤅𐤕

zᵉnûwth

H2184 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Female or general sexual promiscuity, often referring specifically to illicit sexual activity outside socially sanctioned relationships. In many contexts, especially in prophetic literature, also denotes infidelity in a covenant relationship, especially between Israel and YHWH, metaphorically describing religious apostasy or violation of exclusive loyalty to YHWH through engagement in foreign worship practices.

Semantic Range

prostitution, sexual promiscuity, sexual infidelity, illegitimate sexual activity; religious infidelity, metaphorical adultery (apostasy), faithlessness to covenant relationships

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root זנה (zanah), meaning 'to engage in illicit sexual relations, to be promiscuous.' The noun form זְנוּת (zᵉnûwth) is an abstract noun indicating the state, action, or activity of sexual unfaithfulness or promiscuity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term appears in both literal and metaphorical contexts. In narrative and legal sections (e.g., Leviticus, Numbers), זְנוּת is used literally for prostitution or sexual infidelity, often with a focus on women but at times applicable more broadly. In prophetic writings (notably Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel), the term develops a metaphorical nuance, representing Israel's religious disloyalty to YHWH through engagement with foreign deities ('idolatry') and participation in foreign cults. English translations often render זְנוּת as 'whoredom,' 'harlotry,' or 'prostitution,' but this can obscure the broader sense of covenant disloyalty in some contexts. Unlike related terms such as נִאֵוף (ni'ūf, 'adultery'), which emphasizes violation of matrimonial bonds, זְנוּת encompasses a wider range of illicit or prohibited liaisons and is not restricted to married persons. Over time, the term's theological metaphor became prominent, highlighting the notion of faithlessness rather than strictly sexual misconduct. Care should be taken not to conflate the ancient social and legal concepts of זְנוּת with later understandings of sexual morality and social status.

Translation Consistency

primary "unfaithfulness" 2 occurrences

Covers both literal sexual promiscuity/prostitution and the frequent metaphorical sense of covenantal or religious infidelity to YHWH. More natural and broadly applicable than narrower terms like “prostitution” or “harlotry,” so it will render both sexual and spiritual senses consistently.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"sexual infidelity" (4x) "infidelities" (1x) "promiscuities" (1x) "harlotry" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָנָה; adultery, i.e. (figuratively) infidelity, idolatry; whoredom.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זנה (z-n-h) — to be promiscuous, to commit sexual infidelity, to engage in illicit sexual relations

Root זנה to be promiscuous, to commit sexual infidelity, to engage in illicit sexual relations
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2181 זָנָה with the prostitute
H2183 זָנוּן her habitual fornications
H2185 זֹנוֹת the prostituting women
H8457 תַּזְנוּת in their prostitution

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2184-03 זְנ֛וּת zenut HNcfsa whoredom sexual infidelity sexual infidelity 2
H2184-06 זְנוּתֵ֔/ךְ zenutekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs of your prostitution your promiscuity your unfaithfulness 2
H2184-07 זְנוּתֵי/כֶ֑ם zenuteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your unfaithfulnesses your sexual infidelities your infidelities 1
H2184-02 בִּ/זְנוּתַ֖יִ/ךְ bizenutayikhe HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs with your prostitution in your promiscuities in your promiscuities 1
H2184-01 בִּ/זְנוּתָ֔/ם bizenutam HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp by their prostitution in their sexual infidelity by their harlotry 1
H2184-05 זְנוּתָ֛/ם zenutam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their harlotry their sexual infidelity their sexual infidelity 1
H2184-04 זְנוּתָ֔/הּ zenutah HNcfsc/Sp3fs of her whoredom her sexual infidelity of her sexual infidelity 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2184-07 Numbers 14:33 זְנוּתֵי/כֶ֑ם zenuteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your unfaithfulnesses your sexual infidelities your infidelities
H2184-02 Jeremiah 3:2 בִּ/זְנוּתַ֖יִ/ךְ bizenutayikhe HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs with your prostitution in your promiscuities in your promiscuities
H2184-04 Jeremiah 3:9 זְנוּתָ֔/הּ zenutah HNcfsc/Sp3fs of her whoredom her sexual infidelity of her sexual infidelity
H2184-06 Jeremiah 13:27 זְנוּתֵ֔/ךְ zenutekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs of your prostitution your promiscuity your unfaithfulness
H2184-06 Ezekiel 23:27 זְנוּתֵ֖/ךְ zenutekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your harlotry your promiscuity your unfaithfulness
H2184-01 Ezekiel 43:7 בִּ/זְנוּתָ֔/ם bizenutam HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp by their prostitution in their sexual infidelity by their harlotry
H2184-05 Ezekiel 43:9 זְנוּתָ֛/ם zenutam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their harlotry their sexual infidelity their sexual infidelity
H2184-03 Hosea 4:11 זְנ֛וּת zenut HNcfsa whoredom sexual infidelity sexual infidelity
H2184-03 Hosea 6:10 זְנ֣וּת zenut HNcfsa whoredom sexual infidelity sexual infidelity
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