זוּל
𐤆𐤅𐤋
zûwl
H2107 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To shake out, pour out, or shed freely; by extension, to lavish or expend in abundance, often with a nuance of disregard for value. In figurative contexts, to treat something or someone as insignificant, to hold in contempt, or to despise.
Semantic Range
to shake out, to scatter, to pour out (profusely), to lavish, to expend abundantly, to treat lightly, to hold in contempt, to despise, to regard as insignificant
Root / Etymology
Root/etymology: זוּל derives from the root ז-ו-ל, which carries the core meaning of 'to shake, pour, or make light.' The form זוּל in its verbal usage likely arises from the concept of shaking out or making light of something, metaphorically extended to the sense of treating as unworthy or expendable. There is a probable connection to the related root זָלַל (zalal) with similar meanings of being light, despised, or worthless.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, זוּל most often appears in contexts where something is disregarded, scorned, or esteemed lightly. It frequently describes attitudes toward persons or things that are considered unworthy, inferior, or despised, sometimes also with the connotation of wasteful expenditure or squandering. The action may be literal (to scatter or shed freely) or figurative (to show contempt or treat irreverently). The verb is rare and used with some nuance, primarily in poetic or rhetorical contexts. Later terms related to this root (e.g., זול) come to mean 'cheap' or 'common' in post-biblical Hebrew, indicating a continued association with low value or worthlessness. English translations such as 'despise,' 'scorn,' or 'lavish' only partially capture its semantic breadth, often favoring the figurative sense. In different periods, its underlying notion of devaluing or disregarding persists. It is distinct from terms like בָּזָה (bazah, 'to despise') and קָלָל (qalal, 'to curse' or 'to make light'), though there is overlap in figurative senses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (compare זָלַל); probably to shake out, i.e. (by implication) to scatter profusely; figuratively, to treat lightly; lavish, despise.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זול (z-w-l) — to shake out, to pour out, to scatter, to make light
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2108 | זוּלָה | apart from |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2107-02 |
הִזִּיל֨וּ/הָ֙ | hiziluha | HVhp3cp/Sp3fs |
have despised her | they have treated her lightly | 1 |
H2107-01 |
הַ/זָּלִ֤ים | hazalim | HTd/Vqrmpa |
those who lavish | the ones who treat lightly | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2107-01 |
Isaiah 46:6 | הַ/זָּלִ֤ים | hazalim | HTd/Vqrmpa |
those who lavish | the ones who treat lightly |
H2107-02 |
Lamentations 1:8 | הִזִּיל֨וּ/הָ֙ | hiziluha | HVhp3cp/Sp3fs |
have despised her | they have treated her lightly |