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זָכָה

𐤆𐤊𐤄

zâkâh

H2135 verb

SILEX Entry

Root זכה to be clean, to be pure, to be clear, to be acquitted

Definition

To be clean, pure, or free from impurity (physical, moral, or ritual); to be pronounced or regarded as innocent. The word is used for both literal cleanness—such as purity from dirt or impurity—and figurative or legal states of innocence or justification. It may also express the idea of being declared right or blameless in a judicial or forensic context.

Semantic Range

to be clean (physically or morally), to be pure, to be clear of guilt, to be acquitted, to be justified, to be regarded as innocent, to be counted righteous; to be transparent (rare/poetic)

Root / Etymology

Root: זכה related to cleanness or purity. The root meaning is 'to be clean, pure,' and the verb derives from this sense. It is associated with physical as well as moral or ritual conditions. Closely related to זָכַךְ (zakakh), meaning 'to be clean, be pure,' but זָכָה is more frequently used in a legal or judicial sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, זָכָה is used across prose and poetry to refer to both literal and metaphorical states of purity or blamelessness. In legal contexts (e.g., courtroom settings), it often means 'to be found innocent' or 'to be acquitted.' In the Psalms and wisdom literature, the verb frequently expresses the question of human purity or innocence before the deity (e.g., 'How can the mortal be clean?'). It does not carry later theological senses such as 'sinlessness' in an absolute sense but rather focuses on states of being regarded or declared pure, sometimes after a cleansing process. Translations often use 'be clean,' 'be pure,' or 'be innocent,' but in English these can obscure the broader usage, especially the judicial connotation. The word differs from related terms denoting ritual purity (such as טָהוֹר) by its regular association with legal acquittal or vindication rather than ceremonial cleanness alone. There is no direct connection to modern religious or ethnic identities; usage spans from early Israelite law through wisdom traditions, with consistent emphasis on the status of cleanness or innocence before a judge—human or divine.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (compare זָכַךְ); to be translucent; figuratively, to be innocent; be (make) clean, cleanse, be clear, count pure.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זכה (z-k-h) — cleanliness, purity, clearness, acquittal

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2134 זַךְ and pure one
H2136 זָכוּ purity
H2137 זְכוּכִית and clear crystal

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2135-05 יִזְכֶּ֑ה yizekeh HVqi3ms can he be clean he will be pure 2
H2135-06 זִכִּ֣יתִי zikiti HVpp1cs I have kept pure I declared innocent 2
H2135-01 הַ/אֶזְכֶּ֖ה haezekeh HTi/Vqi1cs Shall I count pure I will be acquitted 1
H2135-03 תִּזְכֶּ֥ה tizekeh HVqi2ms you-are-clear you will be pure 1
H2135-02 הִזַּכּ֔וּ hizaku HVtv2mp make yourselves clean Clean yourselves 1
H2135-04 יְזַכֶּה yezakeh HVpi3ms shall keep pure he will declare innocent 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2135-02 Isaiah 1:16 הִזַּכּ֔וּ hizaku HVtv2mp make yourselves clean Clean yourselves
H2135-01 Micah 6:11 הַ/אֶזְכֶּ֖ה haezekeh HTi/Vqi1cs Shall I count pure I will be acquitted
H2135-03 Psalms 51:6 תִּזְכֶּ֥ה tizekeh HVqi2ms you-are-clear you will be pure
H2135-06 Psalms 73:13 זִכִּ֣יתִי zikiti HVpp1cs I have kept pure I declared innocent
H2135-04 Psalms 119:9 יְזַכֶּה yezakeh HVpi3ms shall keep pure he will declare innocent
H2135-06 Proverbs 20:9 זִכִּ֣יתִי zikiti HVpp1cs I have made clean I declared innocent
H2135-05 Job 15:14 יִזְכֶּ֑ה yizekeh HVqi3ms he should be pure he will be pure
H2135-05 Job 25:4 יִּ֝זְכֶּ֗ה yizekeh HVqi3ms can he be clean he will be pure
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