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זָקֵן

𐤆𐤒𐤍

zâqên

H2204 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To grow old, become elderly; describes both the process of aging and the state of advanced age. As an adjective or substantive, it commonly refers to a person of advanced years—typically male, but occasionally female—or, rarely, an object described as old. The word may also denote social status associated with age, signifying not only physical aging but wisdom, seniority, or authority acquired through experience.

Semantic Range

to become old, to age, to be elderly, old man, elder (in age or status), senior citizen, aged woman (rare), object old in age

Root / Etymology

From the root זקן, meaning 'to be old' or 'to become aged.' The verb form denotes the process of aging; nominal and adjectival forms arise from the same root, extending usage to reference an old man, elder, or senior figure. Cognate forms exist in other Semitic languages (e.g., Aramaic זְקֵן, Arabic زكن), sharing the sense of aging or oldness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, זָקֵן functions as both verb (to grow old) and adjective or substantive ('old,' 'old man,' or 'elder'). In patriarchal narratives, it often marks the advanced age of figures such as Abraham or Isaac, sometimes with connotations of wisdom or dignity. In later periods, especially in legal or community contexts, זָקֵן comes to denote an 'elder,' a senior leader or authority in the community, regardless of specific age. This social meaning gives rise to the title of 'elders' (זקנים), referring to council members or respected leaders among the Israelites. Standard English translations (e.g., 'old,' 'elder,' or 'old man') often do not capture the dual aspect of age and status embedded in the term. The semantic field overlaps with but is distinct from terms for child (ילד), young man (בחור), or youth (נער). In the Second Temple and later rabbinic eras, the term increasingly acquired institutional and honorific meanings, as in the designation of elders as community authorities. The later English rendering 'Jew' is not directly relevant to this term, though in translation, the phrase 'the elders of the Jews/Judeans' sometimes occurs and should be understood in this sociopolitical sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be old; aged man, be (wax) old (man).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

זקן (zâqên) — to be old, to grow old, to become aged

Root זקן to be old, to grow old, to become aged
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2205 זָקֵן in the elder
H2206 זָקָן in the beard of
H2207 זֹקֶן from old age
H2208 זָקֻן to his old-age years
H2209 זִקְנָה old age

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2204-06 זָקֵ֖ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old he grew old 15
H2204-05 זָקַ֣נְתִּי zaqaneti HVqp1cs I am old I have grown old I have grown old 6
H2204-02 יַזְקִ֣ין yazeqin HVhi3ms he is old he will make old he grows old 2
H2204-01 וַ/יִּזְקַ֧ן vayizeqan HC/Vqw3ms and grew old and he grew old and he grew old 1
H2204-03 זָקַ֔נְתָּ zaqaneta HVqp2ms have grown old you have grown old you have grown old 1
H2204-04 זָקַ֨נְתָּה֙ zaqanetah HVqp2ms have grown old you have grown old you have grown old 1
H2204-07 זָקְנָ֥ה zaqenah HVqp3fs she is old she grew old she is old 1

Occurrences in Scripture

27 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2204-06 Genesis 18:12 זָקֵֽן zaqen HVqp3ms being old he grew old he grew old
H2204-05 Genesis 18:13 זָקַֽנְתִּי zaqaneti HVqp1cs am old I have grown old I have grown old
H2204-06 Genesis 19:31 זָקֵ֑ן zaqen HVqp3ms is old he grew old is old
H2204-06 Genesis 24:1 זָקֵ֔ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old was old
H2204-06 Genesis 27:1 זָקֵ֣ן zaqen HVqp3ms old he grew old he grew old
H2204-05 Genesis 27:2 זָקַ֑נְתִּי zaqaneti HVqp1cs I am old I have grown old I have grown old
H2204-06 Joshua 13:1 זָקֵ֔ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old was old
H2204-04 Joshua 13:1 זָקַ֨נְתָּה֙ zaqanetah HVqp2ms have grown old you have grown old you have grown old
H2204-06 Joshua 23:1 זָקֵ֔ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old he grew old
H2204-05 Joshua 23:2 זָקַ֔נְתִּי zaqaneti HVqp1cs have grown old I have grown old I have grown old
H2204-06 1 Samuel 2:22 זָקֵ֣ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old he grew old
H2204-06 1 Samuel 4:18 זָקֵ֥ן zaqen HVqp3ms he was old he grew old he was old
H2204-06 1 Samuel 8:1 זָקֵ֖ן zaqen HVqp3ms Samuel was old he grew old he grew old
H2204-03 1 Samuel 8:5 זָקַ֔נְתָּ zaqaneta HVqp2ms have grown old you have grown old you have grown old
H2204-05 1 Samuel 12:2 זָקַ֣נְתִּי zaqaneti HVqp1cs I-have-grown-old I have grown old I have grown old
H2204-06 1 Samuel 17:12 זָקֵ֖ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old he grew old
H2204-06 2 Samuel 19:33 זָקֵ֣ן zaqen HVqp3ms old he grew old old
H2204-06 1 Kings 1:1 זָקֵ֔ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old he grew old
H2204-06 1 Kings 1:15 זָקֵ֣ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old was old
H2204-06 2 Kings 4:14 זָקֵֽן zaqen HVqp3ms is old he grew old is old
H2204-05 Psalms 37:25 זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי zaqaneti HVqp1cs I am old I have grown old I have grown old
H2204-02 Proverbs 22:6 יַ֝זְקִ֗ין yazeqin HVhi3ms he is old he will make old he grows old
H2204-07 Proverbs 23:22 זָקְנָ֥ה zaqenah HVqp3fs she is old she grew old she is old
H2204-02 Job 14:8 יַזְקִ֣ין yazeqin HVhi3ms it grows old he will make old it grows old
H2204-05 Ruth 1:12 זָקַ֖נְתִּי zaqaneti HVqp1cs I have grown old I have grown old I have grown old
H2204-06 1 Chronicles 23:1 זָקֵ֖ן zaqen HVqp3ms was old he grew old he grew old
H2204-01 2 Chronicles 24:15 וַ/יִּזְקַ֧ן vayizeqan HC/Vqw3ms and grew old and he grew old and he grew old
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