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זָלַל

𐤆𐤋𐤋

zâlal

H2151 verb

SILEX Entry

Root זלל to be light (in weight or value), to treat as insignificant, to show lack of restraint

Definition

To be frivolous or show lack of restraint; to be light, despised, or treated with contempt. In various contexts, conveys a sense of something being considered of little value, exhibiting reckless or excessive behavior, or being morally loose. The term can be used of physical shaking or trembling, but more often refers in the Hebrew Bible to figurative worthlessness, prodigality, or being disreputable, especially in ethical and social contexts.

Semantic Range

to be frivolous, to show disregard for moral/social boundaries, to be considered worthless or contemptible, to act with excessive indulgence, to be riotous or prodigal, to be lightly esteemed, to shake/tremble (rare/literal)

Root / Etymology

Root: זָלַל. The root meaning is to be light, to be of little weight or worth. From this primary sense of 'being light,' the verbal form develops meanings connected to lacking substance or seriousness, hence disregarding social or moral boundaries. The related root זוּל suggests a similar range of meanings around being cheap, insignificant, or despised.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, זָלַל primarily appears in contexts denoting reckless consumption or behavior, such as gluttony or riotous living (e.g., Proverbs 23:20–21, 28:7), or as a descriptor for people of disreputable or wasteful habits. In some poetics, it has a connotation of being lightly esteemed; in other cases, it applies to loose or prodigal actions. The semantic shift from 'being light' (in weight) to 'lightness of conduct' illustrates how the word traverses from literal to moral and social domains. This term is less about mere physical trembling (though some rare uses allude to this) and more about social valuation and behavior. Later translation traditions sometimes render the participial form as 'riotous' or 'vile,' but these carry more moral judgment than the Hebrew necessarily implies. No direct connection with the concept of 'Jew' or 'Judaism' is present in this term. Comparison with זוּל (H2107) further highlights the shared semantic territory around worthlessness or contempt. Usage declines after the exilic period, with participial forms persistent in wisdom literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (compare זוּל); to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal; blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זלל (z-l-l) — lightness, worthlessness, lack of restraint

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2149 זֻלּוּת state of despised worthlessness
H2150 זַלְזַל the trembling twigs

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2151-03 נָזֹֽלּוּ nazolu HVNp3cp flowed/melted they were deemed worthless 2
H2151-05 זוֹלֵ֖ל zolel HVqrmsa a glutton the unrestrained one 1
H2151-07 זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים zolelim HVqrmpa gluttons the unrestrained ones 1
H2151-01 בְּ/זֹלֲלֵ֖י bezolaley HR/Vqrmpc among gluttons among the unrestrained ones 1
H2151-06 זוֹלֵלָֽה zolelah HVqrfsa despised a frivolous one 1
H2151-02 מִ/זּוֹלֵ֖ל mizolel HR/Vqrmsa from-vile from an unrestrained one 1
H2151-04 וְ֭/זוֹלֵל vezolel HC/Vqrmsa and-the-glutton a reckless one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2151-05 Deuteronomy 21:20 זוֹלֵ֖ל zolel HVqrmsa a glutton the unrestrained one
H2151-03 Isaiah 63:19 נָזֹֽלּוּ nazolu HVNp3cp would flow down they were deemed worthless
H2151-03 Isaiah 64:2 נָזֹֽלּוּ nazolu HVNp3cp flowed/melted they were deemed worthless
H2151-02 Jeremiah 15:19 מִ/זּוֹלֵ֖ל mizolel HR/Vqrmsa from-vile from an unrestrained one
H2151-01 Proverbs 23:20 בְּ/זֹלֲלֵ֖י bezolaley HR/Vqrmpc among gluttons among the unrestrained ones
H2151-04 Proverbs 23:21 וְ֭/זוֹלֵל vezolel HC/Vqrmsa and-the-glutton a reckless one
H2151-07 Proverbs 28:7 זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים zolelim HVqrmpa gluttons the unrestrained ones
H2151-06 Lamentations 1:11 זוֹלֵלָֽה zolelah HVqrfsa despised a frivolous one
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