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זָעַם

𐤆𐤏𐤌

zâʻam

H2194 verb

SILEX Entry

Root זעם to foam, to be enraged, to curse

Definition

To be enraged or to display intense anger, often in a context of condemnation or cursing. The verb denotes a powerful outburst of anger, sometimes accompanied by speech or judgment. In biblical usage, it describes both human and divine expressions of anger, often involving fierce reproof or denunciation. The intensity often implies not just internal feeling but outward expression, such as denunciation, reviling, or formal execration.

Semantic Range

to be enraged, to express indignation, to denounce, to curse, to revile, to abhor, to be abominable (by extension)

Root / Etymology

Root: זעם. The core root meaning is 'to foam' (at the mouth), conveying the physical manifestation of intense anger or rage. Over time, the verbal root developed the sense of 'to be enraged,' emphasizing both the emotion and its external demonstration. The actual word is a verbal root in the Qal stem and appears with a denominative sense but is not necessarily used literally for foaming in biblical contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb זָעַם appears primarily in poetry and in prophetic literature, where it describes the anger of a deity, especially as expressed in condemning or cursing. In some contexts, it refers to human anger or the act of denouncing or reviling someone. The semantic field overlaps in some cases with other Hebrew verbs for anger (such as קָצַף, חָרָה), but זָעַם especially highlights the outburst and externalization of rage, often linked with judgment or curse. In later periods and translations, forms related to זָעַם might be rendered as 'abomination,' 'curse,' or 'indignation,' but the underlying sense is closer to intense and outwardly expressed anger. Standard English translations may miss the intensity or emphasis on outward expression implied by the Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to foam at the mouth, i.e. to be enraged; abhor, abominable, (be) angry, defy, (have) indignation.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זעם (z-ʿ-m) — to foam, to be enraged, to curse

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2195 זַעַם in fierce wrath

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2194-03 וְ/זָעַ֖ם vezaam HC/Vqq3ms and-anger and he raged in denunciation 2
H2194-05 זָעַ֖ם zaam HVqp3ms has he denounced he raged in condemnation 2
H2194-07 זְע֥וּם zeum HVqsmsc abhorred denounced one 1
H2194-09 זֹעֲמָ֥/ה zoamah HVqv2ms/Sh denounce Denounce in rage! 1
H2194-10 זֹעֵ֥ם zoem HVqrmsa who is angry the enraged one 1
H2194-04 יִזְעָמ֥וּ/הוּ yizeamuhu HVqi3mp/Sp3ms will-abhor-him they will denounce him 1
H2194-06 זָעַ֔מְתָּה zaametah HVqp2ms you-have-been-angry you raged 1
H2194-01 אֶזְעֹ֔ם ezeom HVqi1cs shall I denounce I will denounce in rage 1
H2194-02 נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים nizeamim HVNrmpa angry those being denounced 1
H2194-08 זְעוּמָֽה zeumah HVqsfsa that is accursed cursed one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2194-09 Numbers 23:7 זֹעֲמָ֥/ה zoamah HVqv2ms/Sh denounce Denounce in rage!
H2194-01 Numbers 23:8 אֶזְעֹ֔ם ezeom HVqi1cs shall I denounce I will denounce in rage
H2194-05 Numbers 23:8 זָעַ֖ם zaam HVqp3ms has he denounced he raged in condemnation
H2194-03 Isaiah 66:14 וְ/זָעַ֖ם vezaam HC/Vqq3ms and-anger and he raged in denunciation
H2194-08 Micah 6:10 זְעוּמָֽה zeumah HVqsfsa that is accursed cursed one
H2194-06 Zechariah 1:12 זָעַ֔מְתָּה zaametah HVqp2ms you-have-been-angry you raged
H2194-05 Malachi 1:4 זָעַ֥ם zaam HVqp3ms he-is-angry he raged in condemnation
H2194-10 Psalms 7:12 זֹעֵ֥ם zoem HVqrmsa who is angry the enraged one
H2194-07 Proverbs 22:14 זְע֥וּם zeum HVqsmsc abhorred denounced one
H2194-04 Proverbs 24:24 יִזְעָמ֥וּ/הוּ yizeamuhu HVqi3mp/Sp3ms will-abhor-him they will denounce him
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