זַעֲוָה
𐤆𐤏𐤅𐤄
zaʻăvâh
H2189 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A term denoting agitation, terror, or severe disturbance, often referring to a state of inward alarm, trembling, or external maltreatment. In various contexts, it can refer to psychological distress, overwhelming fear, or serious affliction brought upon someone. The word can also convey the result of such trouble—being removed or cast out—when describing someone's condition or fate.
Semantic Range
agitation, trembling, terror, horror, severe distress, affliction, maltreatment, inner turmoil, being removed or cast away (figuratively)
Root / Etymology
The term is most likely a metathesis (exchange of letters) from the root זו״ע (זְוָעָה, z'vāʿāh) meaning 'trembling, horror, terror.' The root זו״ע conveys the idea of quaking or being violently agitated. The form זַעֲוָה may reflect a dialectal or textual variant or a phonological transposition. It does not appear to derive from a distinct Hebrew root but is morphologically and semantically related to זו״ע.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word זַעֲוָה is rare and chiefly attested in poetic or late texts, sometimes used in parallel with words for terror or divine wrath. Its occurrence largely overlaps with זְוָעָה, and its appearance is sometimes attributed to scribal transposition. In contexts such as Psalm 119:53, it signals intense distress or horror, often linked to observing the conduct or fate of others. Over time, the meaning stabilizes around 'horror' or overwhelming psychological disturbance, sometimes shading into the experience of maltreatment or the sensation of being cast out due to emotional turmoil. English translations such as 'trouble,' 'horror,' or 'ruin' only approximate the fullness of its emotional and social connotations. The term is not tied to any particular historic period but reflects general Israelite concepts of fear and distress.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
by transposition for זְוָעָה; agitation, maltreatment; [idiom] removed, trouble.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זוע (z-w-ʿ) — violent trembling, agitation, terror
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2111 | זוּעַ | your agitators |
| H2112 | זוּעַ | trembling one |
| H2113 | זְוָעָה | quaking terror |
| H2127 | זִיעַ | Tremor |
| H2188 | זֵעָה | in sweat of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2189-01 |
לְ/זַעֲוָ֔ה | lezaavah | HR/Ncfsa |
a horror | for trembling-terror | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2189-01 |
Deuteronomy 28:25 | לְ/זַעֲוָ֔ה | lezaavah | HR/Ncfsa |
a horror | for trembling-terror |
H2189-01 |
Jeremiah 15:4 | לְ/זַֽעֲוָ֔ה | lezaavah | HR/Ncfsa |
for-horror | for trembling-terror |
H2189-01 |
Jeremiah 29:18 | לְ/זַעֲוָ֜ה | lezaavah | HR/Ncfsa |
for-a-horror | for trembling-terror |
H2189-01 |
Jeremiah 34:17 | לְ/זַעֲוָ֔ה | lezaavah | HR/Ncfsa |
for horror | for trembling-terror |
H2189-01 |
Ezekiel 23:46 | לְ/זַעֲוָ֥ה | lezaavah | HR/Ncfsa |
terror | for trembling-terror |
H2189-01 |
2 Chronicles 29:8 | לְ/זַֽעֲוָה֙ | lezaavah | HR/Ncfsa |
to-horror | for trembling-terror |