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זִו

𐤆𐤅

Ziv

H2099 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זיו to shine, to radiate, to be bright

Definition

Proper noun denoting the second month of the ancient Israelite calendar, known as 'Ziv', whose name refers to brightness, radiance, or splendor, referencing the flourishing of flowers and nature's rebirth characteristic of this springtime month. In the Hebrew Bible, 'Ziv' specifically designates the month during which construction on the First Temple began (1 Kings 6:1, 6:37).

Semantic Range

brightness, splendor, radiance (of appearance); proper noun: name of the month Ziv; time of natural flourishing or blossoming

Root / Etymology

From the root זיו ('z-y-v'), meaning 'to shine' or 'to radiate.' The form זִו appears as a proper noun, denoting the name of the month, likely based on its association with radiance or natural splendor. The root (זיו) is related to words expressing shine or brightness, but זִו as a calendar term is a unique development. There is no attestation of an active root verb form in the biblical corpus; derivation is reconstructed based on nominal forms.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The month 'Ziv' is attested only in monarchic-period texts (notably 1 Kings 6:1, 6:37). Ziv corresponds to the later Jewish month of Iyyar (April–May in the modern calendar), but the biblical term is pre-exilic and not used in later texts, which prefer the Babylonian-derived name 'Iyyar.' The terminology shift from Ziv (native Hebrew) to Iyyar (Akkadian/Babylonian) reflects the influence of exile and cultural integration with Babylonian calendrical systems. The term 'Ziv' appears only in the early monarchy/First Temple period and was not used by later Judean communities for this month. In the texts, 'Ziv' is never personified nor does it denote a deity, but rather the quality of the month itself as bright and flourishing. The substitution with 'Zif' or 'Ziv' in some English translations as a proper name can obscure the term’s origin as a seasonal descriptor. The KJV rendering 'Zif,' under influence of late pronunciation traditions, diverges from the original Hebrew pronunciation and function.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from an unused root meaning to be prominent; properly, brightness (compare זִיו), i.e. (figuratively) the month of flowers; Ziv (corresponding to Ijar or May); Zif.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זיו (z-y-v) — to shine, to radiate, brightness, splendor

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2122 זִיו and his radiances

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2099-01 זִ֗ו ziv HNp Ziv Radiance-Month 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2099-01 1 Kings 6:1 זִ֗ו ziv HNp Ziv Radiance-Month
H2099-01 1 Kings 6:37 זִֽו ziv HNp Ziv Radiance-Month
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