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זָהַם

𐤆𐤄𐤌

zâham

H2092 verb

SILEX Entry

Root זהם to be defiled, to become polluted, to be abominable

Definition

To be defiled, polluted, or abominable; to become or render something morally, ceremonially, or ritually abhorrent or loathsome. In most contexts, the verb refers to figurative uncleanness or moral abhorrence rather than to a physical property such as rancidity. It can denote an act that defiles, causes abhorrence, or renders a person or thing ritually objectionable.

Semantic Range

to defile or pollute (morally or ceremonially), to make abominable, to be abhorrent, to treat as vile, to loathe; rarely, to become physically foul (by metaphorical extension)

Root / Etymology

Root: זהם. The root has the basic sense of 'to be polluted, defiled, or abominable.' The form is a verb in the Qal stem, meaning 'to be or become defiled/abhorrent.' Derived nouns and instances in related Semitic languages are extremely rare, so the precise nuance depends on context in the Hebrew Bible. Not related to the common root זָהָב (gold).

Historical & Contextual Notes

זָהַם is a rare verb in Biblical Hebrew, attested only a handful of times (notably in poetic or prophetic passages, such as Nahum 3:6), and consistently carries the sense of moral or ritual abhorrence. It is distinct from roots such as טמא (tame'), which denotes ritual impurity, and תעב (taʿav), which conveys detestation or loathing, but overlaps in the semantic sphere of moral or ceremonial uncleanness. The English rendering 'to abhor' or 'to loathe' often fails to capture the strong connotation of being made ritually repugnant or polluting, which can relate to divine judgment or the consequences of serious transgression. The development of the word's meaning does not show significant change from the monarchic through the exile; later Jewish Aramaic employs cognate forms with a similar meaning. English translations sometimes use 'abhor,' 'make vile,' or 'treat with contempt,' but none fully express the root's possible link to ritual or cultic defilement in its original contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be rancid, i.e. (transitively) to loathe; abhor.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זהם (z-h-m) — defilement, pollution, abhorrence

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2093 זַהַם Zaham

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2092-01 וְ/זִֽהֲמַ֣תּ/וּ vezihamatu HC/Vpp3fs/Sp3ms and-his-life-abhors she has defiled him 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2092-01 Job 33:20 וְ/זִֽהֲמַ֣תּ/וּ vezihamatu HC/Vpp3fs/Sp3ms and-his-life-abhors she has defiled him
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