זֶרַע
𐤆𐤓𐤏
zeraʻ
H2233 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Seed in its literal sense refers to the small, reproductive unit of plants from which a new plant can develop. In extended or metaphorical senses, it denotes offspring, descendants, or posterity, especially of humans and animals; also, it can refer generically to progeny or future generations. In agricultural contexts, it sometimes refers to the act of sowing or the season for sowing. The term also functions idiomatically for lineage, inheritance, or continuation of a family or people group.
Semantic Range
seed (agricultural), plant seed, offspring, progeny, descendants, posterity, lineage, future generations, sowing-time, season for sowing, act of sowing, hereditary continuity
Root / Etymology
Root: זרע, the verb זָרַע (zāra‘) means 'to sow, scatter seed.' The noun זֶרַע (zera‘) is a direct nominal derivative, denoting 'that which is sown,' extending naturally to 'seed' (both as a singular entity and as a collective or abstract noun).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, זֶרַע is frequently used in both literal and figurative senses. Literally, it refers to agricultural seed—grain, fruit seeds, etc.—essential to Israelite agrarian life, rituals, and laws (e.g., Gen 1:11–12; Lev 19:19). Figuratively and far more frequently, it is a collective term for descendants, especially in genealogical contexts or covenants (e.g., Gen 12:7; 15:5; 17:7–10; it refers to the promised posterity of Abraham and other patriarchs). In such contexts, standard English translations may render it as 'descendants,' 'offspring,' or archaically as 'seed.' The word applies to future generations of individuals, families, or whole groups, not only direct sons and daughters but dynastic continuity. The use of 'seed' to mean 'children' or 'posterity' is widespread across the Hebrew Bible, with pronounced theological and literary significance, particularly in the ancestral promises and national destiny themes. In legal or cultic texts, it occasionally refers to the seed to be sown in the land, with implications for tithes and ritual purity (cf. Lev 11:37–38). The extension to 'sowing-time' or the activity/season of sowing is rare but attested. Later translations, especially in the Septuagint and Vulgate, continue both literal and figurative readings, while post-biblical Hebrew tends to specify with more precise terminology. The idiomatic or euphemistic use for male reproductive fluid is extremely rare and context-dependent (cf. Lev 15:16). In the context of tribal or ethnic continuity (e.g., 'the seed of Israel'), the term is collective, not limited to immediate children but encompassing generations. In post-exilic contexts, זֶרַע sometimes helps distinguish between the ethnos of Israelite/Judahite ancestry and other populations in the land.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זרע (z-r-ʿ) — to sow, scatter seed; seed; progeny; lineage
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1872 | דְּרַע | and his arms |
| H2220 | זְרוֹעַ | in an outstretched arm |
| H2221 | זֵרוּעַ | sown produce |
| H2232 | זָרַע | let me sow seed |
| H2234 | זְרַע | in seed of |
Word Forms
42 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2233-42 |
זֶ֔רַע | zera | HNcmsa |
seed | seed | 57 |
H2233-35 |
זַרְעֲ/ךָ֖ | zareakha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your seed | your seed | 22 |
H2233-41 |
זַרְע/וֹ | zareo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his seed | his seed | 16 |
H2233-15 |
מִ/זֶּ֨רַע֙ | mizera | HR/Ncmsc |
of the seed | from seed of | 13 |
H2233-38 |
זַרְעֶֽ/ךָ | zareekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your offspring | your seed | 12 |
H2233-33 |
זָ֑רַע | zara | HNcmsa |
offspring | seed | 12 |
H2233-16 |
וּֽ/לְ/זַרְעֲ/ךָ֖ | ulezareakha | HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
and to your offspring | and to your seed | 7 |
H2233-31 |
וְ/זַרְע֖/וֹ | vezareo | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and his seed | and his seed | 7 |
H2233-08 |
לְ/זַ֨רְעֲ/ךָ֔ | lezareakha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
to your offspring | to your seed | 7 |
H2233-32 |
וְ/זֶרַע֮ | vezera | HC/Ncmsa |
and seed | and seed | 7 |
Occurrences in Scripture
229 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2233-42 |
Genesis 1:11 | זֶ֔רַע | zera | HNcmsa |
seed | seed |
H2233-41 |
Genesis 1:11 | זַרְע/וֹ | zareo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
its seed | his seed |
H2233-42 |
Genesis 1:12 | זֶ֨רַע֙ | zera | HNcmsa |
seed | seed |
H2233-41 |
Genesis 1:12 | זַרְע/וֹ | zareo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
its seed | his seed |
H2233-42 |
Genesis 1:29 | זֶ֗רַע | zera | HNcmsa |
seed | seed |
H2233-33 |
Genesis 1:29 | זָ֑רַע | zara | HNcmsa |
seed | seed |
H2233-35 |
Genesis 3:15 | זַרְעֲ/ךָ֖ | zareakha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your seed | your seed |
H2233-34 |
Genesis 3:15 | זַרְעָ֑/הּ | zareah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her seed | her seed |
H2233-42 |
Genesis 4:25 | זֶ֣רַע | zera | HNcmsa |
offspring | seed |
H2233-42 |
Genesis 7:3 | זֶ֖רַע | zera | HNcmsa |
offspring | seed |