זֶרֶם
𐤆𐤓𐤌
zerem
H2230 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A torrent or powerful flow, especially of water; a rushing stream, outpour, or flood caused by heavy rain or storm. Used primarily to describe overwhelming water flows or, metaphorically, overwhelming forces (such as calamity or devastation). In some contexts, it can indicate a heavy shower or deluge, both literally and figuratively.
Semantic Range
torrent, rushing stream, violent flow, flood, deluge, heavy rain, outpour, overwhelming force (literal or figurative)
Root / Etymology
From the root ז-ר-ם (זרם), which means 'to flow, gush, pour down.' The noun זֶרֶם is derived from this verbal root and denotes the result or product of such flowing, typically a torrent or flood.
Historical & Contextual Notes
זֶרֶם occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible and almost always in poetic or prophetic passages (e.g., Isaiah 28:2, Job 24:8, Nahum 1:8). The term connotes a sudden, forceful rush of water, often used as a metaphor for destructive overflows, whether of water, armies, or divine wrath. In later Hebrew, the word's association broadens to include any heavy stream or violent burst. It is distinct from terms like נַחַל (wadi, stream) or שֶׁטֶף (flood, inundation), emphasizing violence and suddenness. English translations may use 'flood,' 'torrent,' 'shower,' or 'tempest,' though 'storm' may mislead if wind is not present. In some post-biblical and modern usage, the term retains the sense of a sweeping, overwhelming force, not strictly limited to water.
Translation Consistency
Zerem primarily denotes a violent, rushing stream or outpouring. "Torrent" best captures the forceful, concentrated flow (literal and metaphorical) and matches the majority of existing renderings, while remaining natural English and distinct from the broader term "flood."
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from זָרַם; a gush of water; flood, overflowing, shower, storm, tempest.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
זרם (zâram) — to pour, to gush, to stream
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2230-01 |
כְּ/זֶ֥רֶם | kezerem | HR/Ncmsc |
like-a-storm | like a torrent | like a torrent | 3 |
H2230-02 |
מִ/זֶּ֖רֶם | mizerem | HR/Ncmsa |
from storm | from a torrent | from a torrent | 3 |
H2230-03 |
וָ/זֶ֖רֶם | vazerem | HC/Ncmsa |
and-torrent | and torrent | and torrent | 1 |
H2230-04 |
זָ֑רֶם | zarem | HNcmsa |
from the storm | rushing torrent | from the torrent | 1 |
H2230-05 |
זֶ֥רֶם | zerem | HNcmsc |
torrent | torrent of | torrent of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2230-02 |
Isaiah 4:6 | מִ/זֶּ֖רֶם | mizerem | HR/Ncmsa |
from storm | from a torrent | from a torrent |
H2230-02 |
Isaiah 25:4 | מִ/זֶּ֨רֶם֙ | mizerem | HR/Ncmsa |
from the storm | from a torrent | from a torrent |
H2230-01 |
Isaiah 25:4 | כְּ/זֶ֥רֶם | kezerem | HR/Ncmsc |
like a storm | like a torrent | like a torrent |
H2230-01 |
Isaiah 28:2 | כְּ/זֶ֥רֶם | kezerem | HR/Ncmsc |
like-a-storm | like a torrent | like a torrent |
H2230-01 |
Isaiah 28:2 | כְּ֠/זֶרֶם | kezerem-2 | HR/Ncmsc |
like-a-storm | like a torrent | like a torrent |
H2230-03 |
Isaiah 30:30 | וָ/זֶ֖רֶם | vazerem | HC/Ncmsa |
and-torrent | and torrent | and torrent |
H2230-04 |
Isaiah 32:2 | זָ֑רֶם | zarem | HNcmsa |
from the storm | rushing torrent | from the torrent |
H2230-05 |
Habakkuk 3:10 | זֶ֥רֶם | zerem | HNcmsc |
torrent | torrent of | torrent of |
H2230-02 |
Job 24:8 | מִ/זֶּ֣רֶם | mizerem | HR/Ncmsc |
from the rainstorm | from a torrent | from a torrent |