← H2237 H2239 →

זֶרֶשׁ

𐤆𐤓𐤔

Zeresh

H2238 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (non-Hebrew origin; no root meaning in Hebrew)

Definition

Zeresh is a proper feminine personal name referring specifically to the wife of Haman, a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire as depicted in the Book of Esther. The term functions exclusively as a personal name and is not used generically or substantively elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. It does not carry an underlying semantic meaning in Hebrew usage, serving solely as an identifier for this particular historical figure.

Semantic Range

personal name of a Persian woman; specifically used for Haman's wife in Esther

Root / Etymology

The name זֶרֶשׁ (Zeresh) is of Persian origin and does not derive from a known Hebrew root. It was adopted into biblical Hebrew unchanged in form and function, and its original meaning in Old Persian is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Zeresh appears only in the Book of Esther (Esther 5:10, 5:14, 6:13), where she is portrayed as the wife of Haman. The narrative situates her within the Persian royal court during the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). Unlike many Israelite names in the Hebrew Bible, which are often theophoric or contain Hebrew semantic elements, Zeresh is a loan name from Persian, reflecting the Persian imperial context of the narrative. English translations generally leave the name untranslated as 'Zeresh,' which accurately preserves its status as a foreign proper name. Its usage is limited to the exilic/post-exilic Persian period, and there is no evidence of the name being used for Israelites, Judeans, or for other figures in biblical literature. The name serves as a literary and historical marker of the Persian milieu in Esther.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Persian origin; Zeresh, Haman's wife; Zeresh.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

uncertain (unknown) — none (proper name of Persian origin)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar
H1114 בִּלְשָׁן Bilshan
H1150 בִּנְעָא Bin'a
H116 אֱדַיִן and then

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2238-03 זֶ֥רֶשׁ zeresh HNp Zeresh Zeresh 2
H2238-01 לְ/זֶ֤רֶשׁ lezeresh HR/Np to Zeresh to Zeresh 1
H2238-02 וְ/זֶ֣רֶשׁ vezeresh HC/Np and Zeresh and Zeresh 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2238-03 Esther 5:10 זֶ֥רֶשׁ zeresh HNp Zeresh Zeresh
H2238-03 Esther 5:14 זֶ֨רֶשׁ zeresh HNp Zeresh Zeresh
H2238-01 Esther 6:13 לְ/זֶ֤רֶשׁ lezeresh HR/Np to Zeresh to Zeresh
H2238-02 Esther 6:13 וְ/זֶ֣רֶשׁ vezeresh HC/Np and Zeresh and Zeresh
← H2237 Hebrew Lexicon H2239 →