זִרְמָה
𐤆𐤓𐤌𐤄
zirmâh
H2231 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Emission or outflow, especially a strong or forceful discharge of liquid. In context, often denotes sexual emission (semen or seminal fluid), but can generically refer to a gushing or pouring forth of any liquid in a forceful manner. The term is primarily used to describe the physical phenomenon of ejection or expulsion of fluid, with primary reference to human sexual discharge.
Semantic Range
emission, forceful outflow, seminal fluid, issue of semen, gushing of liquid
Root / Etymology
From the root זרם (z-r-m), which means 'to flow, gush, pour out with force.' The noun זִרְמָה is a feminine derivative indicating the phenomenon or product of such flowing – i.e., an emission, particularly sexual in context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
זִרְמָה is attested only in a small number of biblical passages (e.g., Leviticus 15:16, 18), and is typically used in prescriptive contexts referring to ritual impurity resulting from sexual emission. While some post-biblical Jewish literature curtails its meaning to exclusively semen, the Hebrew Bible uses it with clinical specificity for male emission without theological elaboration. The Ancient Israelite purity laws treated such emission as a cause for temporary ritual impurity, regardless of circumstances, and the word does not carry the negative or euphemistic connotations found in some later traditions. English translations often narrow it to 'issue' or 'semen,' but the base sense includes generic forceful emission. The root זרם also produces terms that refer to downpour or heavy rain in other contexts, highlighting the forceful, gushing aspect of the act. The word is not used beyond the domain of ritual or physical description in the biblical text and does not acquire additional metaphorical senses in the canonical Hebrew scriptures.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of זֶרֶם; a gushing of fluid (semen); issue.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זרם (z-r-m) — to flow, gush, pour out forcefully
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2231-02 |
זִרְמָתָֽ/ם | zirematam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
is theirs | their emission | 1 |
H2231-01 |
וְ/זִרְמַ֥ת | veziremat | HC/Ncfsc |
and issue | and emission-of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2231-01 |
Ezekiel 23:20 | וְ/זִרְמַ֥ת | veziremat | HC/Ncfsc |
and issue | and emission-of |
H2231-02 |
Ezekiel 23:20 | זִרְמָתָֽ/ם | zirematam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
is theirs | their emission |