זְנוּת
𐤆𐤍𐤅𐤕
zᵉnûwth
H2184 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Female or general sexual promiscuity, often referring specifically to illicit sexual activity outside socially sanctioned relationships. In many contexts, especially in prophetic literature, also denotes infidelity in a covenant relationship, especially between Israel and YHWH, metaphorically describing religious apostasy or violation of exclusive loyalty to YHWH through engagement in foreign worship practices.
Semantic Range
prostitution, sexual promiscuity, sexual infidelity, illegitimate sexual activity; religious infidelity, metaphorical adultery (apostasy), faithlessness to covenant relationships
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root זנה (zanah), meaning 'to engage in illicit sexual relations, to be promiscuous.' The noun form זְנוּת (zᵉnûwth) is an abstract noun indicating the state, action, or activity of sexual unfaithfulness or promiscuity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term appears in both literal and metaphorical contexts. In narrative and legal sections (e.g., Leviticus, Numbers), זְנוּת is used literally for prostitution or sexual infidelity, often with a focus on women but at times applicable more broadly. In prophetic writings (notably Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel), the term develops a metaphorical nuance, representing Israel's religious disloyalty to YHWH through engagement with foreign deities ('idolatry') and participation in foreign cults. English translations often render זְנוּת as 'whoredom,' 'harlotry,' or 'prostitution,' but this can obscure the broader sense of covenant disloyalty in some contexts. Unlike related terms such as נִאֵוף (ni'ūf, 'adultery'), which emphasizes violation of matrimonial bonds, זְנוּת encompasses a wider range of illicit or prohibited liaisons and is not restricted to married persons. Over time, the term's theological metaphor became prominent, highlighting the notion of faithlessness rather than strictly sexual misconduct. Care should be taken not to conflate the ancient social and legal concepts of זְנוּת with later understandings of sexual morality and social status.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from זָנָה; adultery, i.e. (figuratively) infidelity, idolatry; whoredom.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זנה (z-n-h) — to be promiscuous, to commit sexual infidelity, to engage in illicit sexual relations
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2181 | זָנָה | with the prostitute |
| H2183 | זָנוּן | her habitual fornications |
| H2185 | זֹנוֹת | the prostituting women |
| H8457 | תַּזְנוּת | in their prostitution |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2184-03 |
זְנ֛וּת | zenut | HNcfsa |
whoredom | sexual infidelity | 2 |
H2184-06 |
זְנוּתֵ֔/ךְ | zenutekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
of your prostitution | your promiscuity | 2 |
H2184-07 |
זְנוּתֵי/כֶ֑ם | zenuteykhem | HNcfpc/Sp2mp |
your unfaithfulnesses | your sexual infidelities | 1 |
H2184-02 |
בִּ/זְנוּתַ֖יִ/ךְ | bizenutayikhe | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
with your prostitution | in your promiscuities | 1 |
H2184-01 |
בִּ/זְנוּתָ֔/ם | bizenutam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
by their prostitution | in their sexual infidelity | 1 |
H2184-05 |
זְנוּתָ֛/ם | zenutam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their harlotry | their sexual infidelity | 1 |
H2184-04 |
זְנוּתָ֔/הּ | zenutah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
of her whoredom | her sexual infidelity | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2184-07 |
Numbers 14:33 | זְנוּתֵי/כֶ֑ם | zenuteykhem | HNcfpc/Sp2mp |
your unfaithfulnesses | your sexual infidelities |
H2184-02 |
Jeremiah 3:2 | בִּ/זְנוּתַ֖יִ/ךְ | bizenutayikhe | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
with your prostitution | in your promiscuities |
H2184-04 |
Jeremiah 3:9 | זְנוּתָ֔/הּ | zenutah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
of her whoredom | her sexual infidelity |
H2184-06 |
Jeremiah 13:27 | זְנוּתֵ֔/ךְ | zenutekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
of your prostitution | your promiscuity |
H2184-06 |
Ezekiel 23:27 | זְנוּתֵ֖/ךְ | zenutekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your harlotry | your promiscuity |
H2184-01 |
Ezekiel 43:7 | בִּ/זְנוּתָ֔/ם | bizenutam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
by their prostitution | in their sexual infidelity |
H2184-05 |
Ezekiel 43:9 | זְנוּתָ֛/ם | zenutam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their harlotry | their sexual infidelity |
H2184-03 |
Hosea 4:11 | זְנ֛וּת | zenut | HNcfsa |
whoredom | sexual infidelity |
H2184-03 |
Hosea 6:10 | זְנ֣וּת | zenut | HNcfsa |
whoredom | sexual infidelity |