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זָקֵן

𐤆𐤒𐤍

zâqên

H2205 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily, an individual who is advanced in age; by extension, one recognized for seniority, experience, or social standing. In many contexts, refers specifically to men who are elders within a family, clan, or community, not merely by age but also by role and status. The term can denote both the physical state of old age and the dignified social position of an 'elder.'

Semantic Range

old, aged (person); elder (as respected or authoritative adult male in a community); senior leader, member of a ruling council; one advanced in age (without formal office); ancient (of people)

Root / Etymology

From the root ז-ק-ן, which at the root level means 'to be old' or 'to grow old.' The term זָקֵן derives from this root, and as a noun and adjective, refers to an old person or elder. Although originally descriptive of age, the noun evolved to denote a recognized figure of authority or advisor in the community.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, זָקֵן is frequently used for men who serve as leaders or authorities in the Israelite community, often functioning as council members, judges, or heads of clans ('elders'). In patriarchal and monarchic periods, 'elders' held real power in governance, legal matters, and decision-making. The term is less commonly applied to women. In some contexts, it simply denotes advanced age without connotations of office or status. In later periods, the role of elders shifted to more defined judicial or communal positions, eventually influencing the formation of organized bodies like the Sanhedrin. English translations as 'elder,' 'old man,' or 'senator' often miss the social and communal authority inherent in the term during much of the biblical period. The transition from physical age to communal leadership is parallel to but distinct from other Hebrew terms indicating nobility or officials.

Translation Consistency

primary "elder" 43 occurrences

Most occurrences in the P2 data are rendered as “elders,” and the SILEX emphasizes both age and the social/authoritative role. Choosing “elder” captures the typical biblical sense (a respected/senior person or leader) while remaining natural and consistent across all forms.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"old man" (3x) "elder-men of" (2x) "old" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator.

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
H2204 זָקֵן and he grew old
H2206 זָקָן in the beard of
H2207 זֹקֶן from old age
H2208 זָקֻן to his old-age years
H2209 זִקְנָה old age

Word Forms

30 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2205-28 זִקְנֵ֨י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of 62
H2205-03 הַ/זְּקֵנִים֙ hazeqenim HTd/Aampa the elders the aged men the elders 21
H2205-21 זָקֵ֔ן zaqen HAamsa old he grew old old 20
H2205-26 זְקֵנִ֔ים zeqenim HAampa elders aged men elders 12
H2205-09 מִ/זִּקְנֵ֣י miziqeney HR/Aampc of the elders from elders of from elders of 10
H2205-19 וְ/זִקְנֵ֥י veziqeney HC/Aampc and the elders of and elder-men of and elder-men of 8
H2205-02 הַ/זָּקֵ֖ן hazaqen HTd/Aamsa the old man the aged man the elder 6
H2205-17 וְ/הַ/זְּקֵנִ֛ים vehazeqenim HC/Td/Aampa and the elders and the elder men and the elder men 5
H2205-06 לְ/זִקְנֵ֥י leziqeney HR/Aampc to the elders to aged-elders of to the elders of 4
H2205-15 וּ/זְקֵנִ֖ים uzeqenim HC/Aampa and elders and aged men and aged men 4

Occurrences in Scripture

179 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2205-29 Deuteronomy 29:9 זִקְנֵי/כֶם֙ ziqeneykhem HAampc/Sp2mp elders of your elders your elders
H2205-28 Deuteronomy 31:9 זִקְנֵ֖י ziqeney HAampc elders of elders of elders of
H2205-28 Deuteronomy 31:28 זִקְנֵ֥י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-25 Deuteronomy 32:7 זְקֵנֶ֖י/ךָ zeqeneykha HAampc/Sp2ms your elders your elders your elders
H2205-21 Joshua 6:21 זָקֵ֑ן zaqen HAamsa old man he grew old an old man
H2205-19 Joshua 7:6 וְ/זִקְנֵ֣י veziqeney HC/Aampc and elders and elder-men of and elder-men of
H2205-19 Joshua 8:10 וְ/זִקְנֵ֧י veziqeney HC/Aampc and the elders and elder-men of and elder-men of
H2205-14 Joshua 8:33 וּ/זְקֵנָ֡י/ו uzeqenayv HC/Aampc/Sp3ms and its elders and his elders and his elders
H2205-27 Joshua 9:11 זְֽקֵינֵי/נוּ֩ zeqeyneynu HAampc/Sp1cp our elders our elders our elders
H2205-28 Joshua 20:4 זִקְנֵ֥י ziqeney HAampc the elders elders of elders of
H2205-07 Joshua 23:2 לִ/זְקֵנָי/ו֙ lizeqenayv HR/Aampc/Sp3ms its elders to his elders to his elders
H2205-06 Joshua 24:1 לְ/זִקְנֵ֨י leziqeney HR/Aampc for the elders to aged-elders of to the elders of
H2205-03 Joshua 24:31 הַ/זְּקֵנִ֗ים hazeqenim HTd/Aampa the elders the aged men the elders
H2205-03 Judges 2:7 הַ/זְּקֵנִ֗ים hazeqenim HTd/Aampa the elders the aged men the elders
H2205-24 Judges 8:14 זְקֵנֶ֔י/הָ zeqeneyha HAampc/Sp3fs its elders her elders her elders
H2205-28 Judges 8:16 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-28 Judges 11:5 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc the elders of elders of elders of
H2205-06 Judges 11:7 לְ/זִקְנֵ֣י leziqeney HR/Aampc to the elders to aged-elders of to the elders of
H2205-28 Judges 11:8 זִקְנֵ֨י ziqeney HAampc elders of elders of elders of
H2205-28 Judges 11:9 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc the elders of elders of elders of
H2205-28 Judges 11:10 זִקְנֵֽי ziqeney HAampc elders of elders of elders of
H2205-28 Judges 11:11 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders-of elders of elders of
H2205-21 Judges 19:16 זָקֵ֗ן zaqen HAamsa old he grew old old
H2205-02 Judges 19:17 הַ/זָּקֵ֛ן hazaqen HTd/Aamsa the old the aged man the elder
H2205-02 Judges 19:20 הַ/זָּקֵן֙ hazaqen HTd/Aamsa the old man the aged man the elder
H2205-02 Judges 19:22 הַ/זָּקֵן֙ hazaqen HTd/Aamsa the old man the aged man the elder
H2205-28 Judges 21:16 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-21 1 Samuel 2:31 זָקֵ֖ן zaqen HAamsa an old man he grew old an old man
H2205-21 1 Samuel 2:32 זָקֵ֛ן zaqen HAamsa an old man he grew old an old man
H2205-28 1 Samuel 4:3 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders of elders of elders of
H2205-28 1 Samuel 8:4 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-28 1 Samuel 11:3 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders of elders of elders of
H2205-28 1 Samuel 15:30 זִקְנֵֽי ziqeney HAampc the elders of elders of elders of
H2205-28 1 Samuel 16:4 זִקְנֵ֤י ziqeney HAampc the elders of elders of elders of
H2205-21 1 Samuel 28:14 זָקֵן֙ zaqen HAamsa old he grew old old
H2205-06 1 Samuel 30:26 לְ/זִקְנֵ֥י leziqeney HR/Aampc to-elders-of to aged-elders of to the elders of
H2205-28 2 Samuel 3:17 זִקְנֵ֥י ziqeney HAampc the elders elders of elders of
H2205-28 2 Samuel 5:3 זִקְנֵ֨י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-28 2 Samuel 12:17 זִקְנֵ֤י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-28 2 Samuel 17:4 זִקְנֵ֥י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-28 2 Samuel 17:15 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders of elders of elders of
H2205-28 2 Samuel 19:12 זִקְנֵ֤י ziqeney HAampc elders-of elders of elders of
H2205-28 1 Kings 8:1 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-28 1 Kings 8:3 זִקְנֵ֣י ziqeney HAampc elders elders of elders of
H2205-03 1 Kings 12:6 הַ/זְּקֵנִים֙ hazeqenim HTd/Aampa the elders the aged men the elders
H2205-03 1 Kings 12:8 הַ/זְּקֵנִ֖ים hazeqenim HTd/Aampa of the elders the aged men the elders
H2205-03 1 Kings 12:13 הַ/זְּקֵנִ֖ים hazeqenim HTd/Aampa of the elders the aged men the elders
H2205-21 1 Kings 13:11 זָקֵ֔ן zaqen HAamsa old he grew old an elder
H2205-02 1 Kings 13:25 הַ/זָּקֵ֖ן hazaqen HTd/Aamsa the old the aged man the elder
H2205-02 1 Kings 13:29 הַ/זָּקֵ֔ן hazaqen HTd/Aamsa the old the aged man the elder
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