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זָכָר

𐤆𐤊𐤓

zâkâr

H2145 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root זכר to remember, to recall, to mention

Definition

A male; an individual of the masculine sex, used of humans and animals. The term marks biological sex in contrast to female (נְקֵבָה, neqēbāh) and is used for differentiation in genealogies, legal codes, ritual requirements, and narrative descriptions. It denotes the male sex in specific contexts, including but not limited to: biological sex distinctions (human and animal), inheritance and familial lineage, ritual participation, and occasionally grammatical gender.

Semantic Range

male (human), male (animal), male child, male descendant, male participant (in ritual/law), masculine (grammatical gender)

Root / Etymology

From the root זכר, which carries the core meaning 'to remember, to recall, to mention.' The noun זָכָר appears to be derived from the same root, possibly originally implying one who is 'remembered' or 'designated' (as heir or progenitor), though the precise development to the biological sense is debated. The connection between 'remembrance' and 'male' is etymologically opaque, and some scholars posit that the original association may have been with memorializing lineage through sons.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, זָכָר refers both to human males and to male animals, sometimes with specific legal or ritual importance (e.g., only male animals fit for certain sacrifices; lineage traced through males; circumcision requirements applying to males). This word regularly appears in legal contexts (such as Leviticus) and genealogical records. The contrast between זָכָר (male) and נְקֵבָה (female) is foundational for binary gender distinctions in biblical law and narrative. In later periods and translation traditions, the Greek ἄρσεν and Latin masculus are common equivalents, but the English 'man' or 'male' sometimes fails to preserve the full range of its biblical use. The association with remembrance or distinction is not present in most usages, and the word should not be understood as implying 'important' or 'noteworthy' except where the context supports such nuance. Over time, the term's function as a marker of biological sex persists, though the later English label 'man' may not always reflect the more precise Hebrew delineations in a ritual or legal context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָכַר; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex); [idiom] him, male, man(child, -kind).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1798 דְּכַר male rams
H2138 זָכוּר her male
H2139 זַכּוּר and Remembered-one
H2142 זָכַר I will cause to be remembered
H2143 זֵכֶר for remembrance of

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2145-06 זָכָ֥ר zakhar HAamsa male male 58
H2145-02 הַ/זְּכָרִ֖ים hazekharim HTd/Ncmpa males the males 15
H2145-01 הַ/זָּכָ֔ר hazakhar HTd/Ncmsa the male the male 4
H2145-04 לִ/זְכָרִ֖ים lizekharim HR/Ncmpa males to males 2
H2145-03 לַ/זָּכָ֖ר lazakhar HRd/Ncmsa for the male for the male 2
H2145-05 מִ/זָּכָ֤ר mizakhar HR/Ncmsa both male from a male 1

Occurrences in Scripture

82 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2145-06 Genesis 1:27 זָכָ֥ר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 5:2 זָכָ֥ר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 6:19 זָכָ֥ר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 7:3 זָכָ֣ר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 7:9 זָכָ֣ר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 7:16 זָכָ֨ר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 17:10 זָכָֽר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 17:12 זָכָ֖ר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 17:14 זָכָ֗ר zakhar HAamsa male male
H2145-06 Genesis 17:23 זָכָ֕ר zakhar HAamsa male male
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