זָכַר
𐤆𐤊𐤓
zâkar
H2142 verb
SILEX Entry
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.
Translation Consistency
'Remember' is the most natural and common English rendering for H2142 and fits the full semantic range (to call to mind, recall, mention, commemorate, be remembered). It is already the predominant choice in the corpus, and other senses (passive, causative, commemorative, or record-keeping) can be handled by voice, auxiliaries, or context (e.g. 'is remembered', 'causes to remember', 'remembers/remembered') while keeping a single consistent base verb.
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
| Language | Bantu Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kikongo | kumbuka | to remember, call to mind | |
| Kinyarwanda | kwibuka | to remember, to commemorate | |
| Kirundi | kwibuka | to remember | |
| Lingala | kumbuka | to remember, recall, commemorate | |
| Swahili | kumbuka | to remember, recall, commemorate |
Root Family
זכר (Zakur) — to remember, to recall, to mention
| 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 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2142-78 |
זְכֹ֞ר | zekhor | HVqv2ms |
Remember | Remember! | Remember | 18 |
H2142-64 |
זָכַ֞ר | zakhar | HVqp3ms |
remembered | male | remembered | 12 |
H2142-73 |
זְכָר | zekhar | HVqv2ms |
remember | remember! | remember | 11 |
H2142-68 |
זָכְרָ֕/ה | zakherah | HVqv2ms/Sh |
remember | she remembered | remember | 9 |
H2142-37 |
תִּזְכֹּ֗ר | tizekor | HVqj2ms |
remember | you will remember | you will remember | 8 |
H2142-47 |
וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֤ר | vayizekor | HC/Vqw3ms |
and remembered | and he remembered | and he remembered | 8 |
H2142-51 |
וְ/זָכַרְתָּ֖ | vezakhareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and you shall remember | and you will remember | and you will remember | 8 |
H2142-71 |
זָכֹ֣ר | zakhor | HVqa |
remember | remembering | remember | 8 |
H2142-10 |
הַ/מַּזְכִּֽיר | hamazekir | HTd/Vhrmsa |
the recorder | the one who causes to remember | the one who causes to remember | 7 |
H2142-63 |
יִזְכֹּ֖ר | yizekor | HVqi3ms |
he-remembers | he will remember | he will remember | 7 |
Occurrences in Scripture
235 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2142-47 |
Genesis 8:1 | וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֤ר | vayizekor | HC/Vqw3ms |
and remembered | and he remembered | and he remembered |
H2142-53 |
Genesis 9:15 | וְ/זָכַרְתִּ֣י | vezakhareti | HC/Vqq1cs |
and I will remember | and I remembered | and I will remember |
H2142-21 |
Genesis 9:16 | לִ/זְכֹּר֙ | lizekor | HR/Vqc |
to remember | to remember | to remember |
H2142-47 |
Genesis 19:29 | וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֥ר | vayizekor | HC/Vqw3ms |
and remembered | and he remembered | and he remembered |
H2142-47 |
Genesis 30:22 | וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֥ר | vayizekor | HC/Vqw3ms |
remembered | and he remembered | and he remembered |
H2142-76 |
Genesis 40:14 | זְכַרְתַּ֣/נִי | zekharetani | HVqp2ms/Sp1cs |
you remember me | you remembered me | you remember me |
H2142-48 |
Genesis 40:14 | וְ/הִזְכַּרְתַּ֨/נִי֙ | vehizekaretani | HC/Vhq2ms/Sp1cs |
and mention me | and you caused me to be remembered | and you mention me |
H2142-64 |
Genesis 40:23 | זָכַ֧ר | zakhar | HVqp3ms |
remember | male | remembered |
H2142-23 |
Genesis 41:9 | מַזְכִּ֥יר | mazekir | HVhrmsa |
remember | the one who causes remembrance | the one who causes someone to remember |
H2142-47 |
Genesis 42:9 | וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֣ר | vayizekor | HC/Vqw3ms |
remembered | and he remembered | and he remembered |
H2142-47 |
Exodus 2:24 | וַ/יִּזְכֹּ֤ר | vayizekor | HC/Vqw3ms |
and God remembered | and he remembered | and he remembered |
H2142-43 |
Exodus 6:5 | וָ/אֶזְכֹּ֖ר | vaezekor | HC/Vqw1cs |
and I have remembered | and I remembered | and I remembered |
H2142-71 |
Exodus 13:3 | זָכ֞וֹר | zakhor | HVqa |
remember | remembering | remember |
H2142-71 |
Exodus 20:8 | זָכ֛וֹר | zakhor | HVqa |
Remember | remembering | remember |
H2142-01 |
Exodus 20:24 | אַזְכִּ֣יר | azekir | HVhi1cs |
I cause to be remembered | I will cause to be remembered | I will cause to be remembered |
H2142-27 |
Exodus 23:13 | תַזְכִּ֔ירוּ | tazekiru | HVhi2mp |
you shall mention | you will cause to remember | you shall mention |
H2142-78 |
Exodus 32:13 | זְכֹ֡ר | zekhor | HVqv2ms |
remember | Remember! | Remember |
H2142-28 |
Exodus 34:19 | תִּזָּכָ֔ר | tizakhar | HVNi3fs |
the firstborn | she will be remembered | male |
H2142-53 |
Leviticus 26:42 | וְ/זָכַרְתִּ֖י | vezakhareti | HC/Vqq1cs |
then I will remember | and I remembered | and I will remember |
H2142-09 |
Leviticus 26:42 | אֶזְכֹּ֖ר | ezekor | HVqi1cs |
I will remember | I will remember | I will remember |
H2142-09 |
Leviticus 26:42 | אֶזְכֹּֽר | ezekor-2 | HVqi1cs |
I will remember | I will remember | I will remember |
H2142-53 |
Leviticus 26:45 | וְ/זָכַרְתִּ֥י | vezakhareti | HC/Vqq1cs |
and-I-will-remember | and I remembered | and I will remember |
H2142-22 |
Numbers 5:15 | מַזְכֶּ֥רֶת | mazekeret | HVhrfsa |
bringing to remembrance | causing remembrance | causing remembrance |
H2142-44 |
Numbers 10:9 | וֲ/נִזְכַּרְתֶּ֗ם | vanizekaretem | HC/VNq2mp |
and you will be remembered | and you will be remembered | and you will be remembered |
H2142-65 |
Numbers 11:5 | זָכַ֨רְנוּ֙ | zakharenu | HVqp1cp |
we remember | we remembered | we remember |
H2142-41 |
Numbers 15:39 | וּ/זְכַרְתֶּם֙ | uzekharetem | HC/Vqq2mp |
and remember | and you shall remember | and you shall remember |
H2142-36 |
Numbers 15:40 | תִּזְכְּר֔וּ | tizekeru | HVqi2mp |
you may remember | you will remember | you will remember |
H2142-51 |
Deuteronomy 5:15 | וְ/זָכַרְתָּ֗ | vezakhareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and you shall remember | and you will remember | and you will remember |
H2142-71 |
Deuteronomy 7:18 | זָכֹ֣ר | zakhor | HVqa |
remember | remembering | remember |
H2142-37 |
Deuteronomy 7:18 | תִּזְכֹּ֗ר | tizekor | HVqi2ms |
you shall remember | you will remember | you will remember |
H2142-51 |
Deuteronomy 8:2 | וְ/זָכַרְתָּ֣ | vezakhareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and-you-shall-remember | and you will remember | and you will remember |
H2142-51 |
Deuteronomy 8:18 | וְ/זָֽכַרְתָּ֙ | vezakhareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
you shall remember | and you will remember | and you will remember |
H2142-78 |
Deuteronomy 9:7 | זְכֹר֙ | zekhor | HVqv2ms |
Remember | Remember! | Remember |
H2142-78 |
Deuteronomy 9:27 | זְכֹר֙ | zekhor | HVqv2ms |
remember | Remember! | Remember |
H2142-51 |
Deuteronomy 15:15 | וְ/זָכַרְתָּ֗ | vezakhareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and you shall remember | and you will remember | and you will remember |
H2142-37 |
Deuteronomy 16:3 | תִּזְכֹּר֔ | tizekor | HVqi2ms |
you may remember | you will remember | you will remember |
H2142-51 |
Deuteronomy 16:12 | וְ/זָ֣כַרְתָּ֔ | vezakhareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and you shall remember | and you will remember | and you will remember |
H2142-71 |
Deuteronomy 24:9 | זָכ֕וֹר | zakhor | HVqa |
Remember | remembering | remember |
H2142-51 |
Deuteronomy 24:18 | וְ/זָכַרְתָּ֗ | vezakhareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and you shall remember | and you will remember | and you will remember |
H2142-51 |
Deuteronomy 24:22 | וְ/זָ֣כַרְתָּ֔ | vezakhareta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and you shall remember | and you will remember | and you will remember |
H2142-71 |
Deuteronomy 25:17 | זָכ֕וֹר | zakhor | HVqa |
Remember | remembering | remember |
H2142-78 |
Deuteronomy 32:7 | זְכֹר֙ | zekhor | HVqv2ms |
Remember | Remember! | Remember |
H2142-71 |
Joshua 1:13 | זָכוֹר֙ | zakhor | HVqa |
Remember | remembering | remember |
H2142-27 |
Joshua 23:7 | תַזְכִּ֨ירוּ֙ | tazekiru | HVhi2mp |
mention | you will cause to remember | you mention |
H2142-70 |
Judges 8:34 | זָֽכְרוּ֙ | zakheru | HVqp3cp |
remembered | they remembered | they remembered |
H2142-41 |
Judges 9:2 | וּ/זְכַרְתֶּ֕ם | uzekharetem | HC/Vqp2mp |
and remember | and you shall remember | and you shall remember |
H2142-69 |
Judges 16:28 | זָכְרֵ֣/נִי | zakhereni | HVqv2ms/Sp1cs |
remember me | remember me | remember me |
H2142-40 |
1 Samuel 1:11 | וּ/זְכַרְתַּ֨/נִי֙ | uzekharetani | HC/Vqq2ms/Sp1cs |
and remember me | and you remembered me | and you will remember me |
H2142-45 |
1 Samuel 1:19 | וַ/יִּֽזְכְּרֶ֖/הָ | vayizekereha | HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3fs |
and remembered her | and he remembered her | and he remembered her |
H2142-18 |
1 Samuel 4:18 | כְּ/הַזְכִּיר֣/וֹ | kehazekiro | HR/Vhc/Sp3ms |
when they mentioned it | as causing him to be remembered | when it was mentioned |