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זָהָב

𐤆𐤄𐤁

zâhâb

H2091 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Gold, a precious metal characterized by its yellow luster; used as a material for ornaments, currency, vessels, and cultic implements. The term denotes both the raw metal and objects fashioned from it. Metaphorically, it can represent splendor, purity, or great value in poetic or wisdom literature, occasionally extending to golden color or brilliance.

Semantic Range

gold (precious metal), golden objects or vessels, gold as a standard of value or tribute, gold as symbolic of wealth or splendor, golden/yellow color (rare/poetic), radiant sky (poetic/metaphorical)

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Root uncertain; often linked by ancient lexicographers to a root associated with shining or shimmering, but no clear cognate verb is attested in Biblical Hebrew. Some have compared it to related Semitic roots in Akkadian (e.g., hubullu) or Ugaritic, but the etymological connection remains speculative. The noun זָהָב entered Hebrew usage early and is well-attested throughout the Tanakh.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historical & Contextual Notes: זָהָב is attested from the earliest narrative strata of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Genesis), indicating the metal’s known value and use among early Israelites. It was imported into the land from regions such as Ophir and Sheba, often as tribute or trade. In the monarchy period, זָהָב is associated with the opulence of courts and temple architecture—most notably Solomon’s Temple, where it is repeatedly mentioned as a primary construction and decorative material. In poetic and prophetic literature, זָהָב may symbolize purity, incorruptibility, or, in negative contexts, vanity or the perishable nature of earthly riches. The term does not carry the modern religious or moral meanings attached to gold but is usually a literal description. Occasionally, as in Job 37:22, the term may describe a golden or radiant sky, indicating brightness or splendor, or be used for comparisons to other yellow objects (though such metonymic uses are rare and context-dependent). Later tradition sometimes summarized זָהָב with terms like 'wealth' or 'treasure,' but the core meaning in the biblical period remained material and descriptive. English translations usually render it accurately as 'gold,' though metaphorical uses can lose nuance if translated too literally.

Translation Consistency

primary "gold" 50 occurrences

Gold is the natural, idiomatic English noun that matches the primary meaning of זָהָב — the precious metal and objects made from it. It covers raw metal, vessels, ornaments, monetary/tribute sense, and figurative uses (splendor, value, golden color) while matching the overwhelmingly dominant rendering in the source data.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather.

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Kinyarwanda zahabu gold
Kirundi zahabu gold
Luganda zzaabu gold
Swahili dhahabu gold

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Root Family

זהב (zâhâb) — to shine, shimmer (uncertain root); gold as a shining object

Root זהב to shine, shimmer (uncertain root); gold as a shining object

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2091-20 זָהָ֥ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold 238
H2091-03 הַ/זָּהָ֔ב hazahav HTd/Ncmsa the gold the gold the gold 60
H2091-19 וְ/זָהָ֛ב vezahav HC/Ncmsa and gold and gold and gold 30
H2091-05 לַ/זָּהָ֥ב lazahav HRd/Ncmsa for gold to the gold to the gold 11
H2091-17 וְ/הַ/זָּהָ֔ב vehazahav HC/Td/Ncmsa and the gold and the gold and the gold 9
H2091-01 בַּ/זָּהָ֨ב bazahav HRd/Ncmsa in gold in the gold in the gold 7
H2091-14 וּ/זְהָבָ/ם֮ uzehavam HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp and their gold and their gold and their gold 4
H2091-21 זְהַ֥ב zehav HNcmsc gold gold-of gold-of 4
H2091-04 כַּ/זָּהָֽב kazahav HRd/Ncmsa as gold as gold as gold 3
H2091-12 וּ/בְ/זָהָ֖ב uvezahav HC/R/Ncmsa and with gold and with gold and with gold 3

Occurrences in Scripture

389 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2091-03 Genesis 2:11 הַ/זָּהָֽב hazahav HTd/Ncmsa the gold the gold the gold
H2091-13 Genesis 2:12 וּֽ/זֲהַ֛ב uzahav HC/Ncmsc and gold and gold-of and gold
H2091-11 Genesis 13:2 וּ/בַ/זָּהָֽב uvazahav HC/Rd/Ncmsa and in gold and in the gold and in the gold
H2091-20 Genesis 24:22 זָהָ֔ב zahav HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-20 Genesis 24:22 זָהָ֖ב zahav-2 HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-19 Genesis 24:35 וְ/זָהָ֔ב vezahav HC/Ncmsa and gold and gold and gold
H2091-20 Genesis 24:53 זָהָב֙ zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-03 Genesis 41:42 הַ/זָּהָ֖ב hazahav HTd/Ncmsa of gold the gold the gold
H2091-20 Genesis 44:8 זָהָֽב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 3:22 זָהָ֖ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 11:2 זָהָֽב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 12:35 זָהָ֖ב zahav HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 20:23 זָהָ֔ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:3 זָהָ֥ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:11 זָהָ֣ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:11 זָהָ֖ב zahav-2 HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:12 זָהָ֔ב zahav HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:13 זָהָֽב zahav HNcmsa with gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:17 זָהָ֣ב zahav HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:18 זָהָ֑ב zahav HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:24 זָהָ֣ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:24 זָהָ֖ב zahav-2 HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:25 זָהָ֛ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:26 זָהָ֑ב zahav HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:28 זָהָ֑ב zahav HNcmsa with gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:29 זָהָ֥ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:31 זָהָ֣ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:36 זָהָ֥ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:38 זָהָ֥ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 25:39 זָהָ֥ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 26:6 זָהָ֑ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 26:29 זָהָ֗ב zahav HNcmsa with gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 26:29 זָהָ֔ב zahav-2 HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 26:29 זָהָֽב zahav-3 HNcmsa with gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 26:32 זָהָ֔ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 26:32 זָהָ֑ב zahav-2 HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 26:37 זָהָ֔ב zahav HNcmsa with gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 26:37 זָהָ֑ב zahav-2 HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-03 Exodus 28:5 הַ/זָּהָ֔ב hazahav HTd/Ncmsa the gold the gold the gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:6 זָ֠הָב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:8 זָהָ֗ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:11 זָהָ֖ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:13 זָהָֽב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:14 זָהָ֣ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:15 זָ֠הָב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:20 זָהָ֛ב zahav HNcmsa in gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:22 זָהָ֖ב zahav HNcmsa gold gold gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:23 זָהָ֑ב zahav HNcmsa of gold gold gold
H2091-03 Exodus 28:24 הַ/זָּהָ֔ב hazahav HTd/Ncmsa of gold the gold the gold
H2091-20 Exodus 28:26 זָהָ֔ב zahav HNcmsa of gold gold gold
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