זָכַר

𐤆𐤊𐤓

zâkar

H2142 verb

SILEX Entry

Root זכר to remember, to mention, to recall, to commemorate

Definition

To call to mind or remember (something or someone), to think of, recall, or bring to awareness; also, to make mention of, recount, or commemorate; occasionally, to act upon what is remembered. The word can refer to active remembrance in ritual or prayer, verbal mention in speech, or inner recollection. In pi‘el and hiph‘il stems, also refers to causing to be remembered, public commemoration, or record-keeping. Lexically distinct from the related nominal form זָכָר (zâkâr, 'male'), but shares the root as a denominative in a few rare cases.

Semantic Range

to remember, to recall, to bring to mind, to mention, to make a record, to commemorate, to be mindful, to be remembered (passive), to invoke, to act in response to remembrance

Root / Etymology

From the root זָכַר (z-k-r), which denotes the notion 'to remember, recall, record'. The nominal form זָכָר (zâkâr) means 'male', possibly originating from early associations with commemoration or marking. The verb usually expresses an action of the mind (remembering), speech (mentioning), or public ritual (commemorating). A few uses are denominative from the noun, but the main verb is not limited to gendered meaning. Phonologically, corresponds with Northwest Semitic cognates (Ugaritic dkr, Akkadian zakāru) meaning 'to remember, mention'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, זָכַר predominantly describes the act of remembering, both by individuals and by the deity, ranging from simple recollection to covenantal acts where remembrance leads to action (e.g., divine remembrance leads to deliverance or judgment). In ritual contexts, to 'mention' someone's name is to invoke or remember them publically, often in liturgical or official settings (cf. memorial offerings, record-keeping). The verb distinguishes itself from synonyms such as שָׁכַח (shakach, 'to forget') and נָכַר (nākhar, 'to recognize'), by emphasizing inner recollection or public memorization rather than mere recognition or absence of memory. Occasionally, in Later Biblical Hebrew and cognate languages, the root can be extended metaphorically to mean 'to consider', 'to be mindful of', or 'to make oneself known'. English translations as 'to remember' or 'to make mention of' generally capture the core meaning, but sometimes fail to convey the fullness of ritual, legal, or commemorative overtones present in Hebrew usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; also as denominative from זָכָר; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זכר (z-k-r) — to remember, to mention, to recall, to commemorate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1798 דְּכַר male rams
H2138 זָכוּר her male
H2139 זַכּוּר and Remembered-one
H2143 זֵכֶר for remembrance of
H2144 זֶכֶר and Zeker

Word Forms

82 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2142-78 זְכֹ֡ר zekhor HVqv2ms Remember Remember! 18
H2142-64 זָכַ֧ר zakhar HVqp3ms remembered male 12
H2142-73 זְכָר zekhar HVqv2ms remember remember! 11
H2142-68 זָֽכְרָ֣ה zakherah HVqp3fs remember she remembered 9
H2142-71 זָכ֞וֹר zakhor HVqa remember remembering 8
H2142-37 תִּזְכֹּ֗ר tizekor HVqi2ms remember you will remember 8
H2142-47 וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֤ר vayizekor HC/Vqw3ms and remembered and he remembered 8
H2142-51 וְ/זָכַרְתָּ֗ vezakhareta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall remember and you will remember 8
H2142-80 זִכְרוּ zikheru HVqv2mp Remember Remember, you men 7
H2142-67 זָכַ֤רְתִּי zakhareti HVqp1cs I remember I remembered 7

Occurrences in Scripture

235 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2142-47 Genesis 8:1 וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֤ר vayizekor HC/Vqw3ms and remembered and he remembered
H2142-53 Genesis 9:15 וְ/זָכַרְתִּ֣י vezakhareti HC/Vqq1cs and I will remember and I remembered
H2142-21 Genesis 9:16 לִ/זְכֹּר֙ lizekor HR/Vqc to remember to remember
H2142-47 Genesis 19:29 וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֥ר vayizekor HC/Vqw3ms and remembered and he remembered
H2142-47 Genesis 30:22 וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֥ר vayizekor HC/Vqw3ms remembered and he remembered
H2142-76 Genesis 40:14 זְכַרְתַּ֣/נִי zekharetani HVqp2ms/Sp1cs you remember me you remembered me
H2142-48 Genesis 40:14 וְ/הִזְכַּרְתַּ֨/נִי֙ vehizekaretani HC/Vhq2ms/Sp1cs and mention me and you caused me to be remembered
H2142-64 Genesis 40:23 זָכַ֧ר zakhar HVqp3ms remember male
H2142-23 Genesis 41:9 מַזְכִּ֥יר mazekir HVhrmsa remember the one who causes remembrance
H2142-47 Genesis 42:9 וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֣ר vayizekor HC/Vqw3ms remembered and he remembered