אֲזִקִּים
𐤀𐤆𐤒𐤉𐤌
ʼăziqqîym
H246 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Plural noun referring to iron fetters, shackles, or manacles used for securing the feet (and sometimes hands) of prisoners or captives, typically made of metal and fastened with chains or bars. Denotes physical restraints imposed for the purpose of confinement or subjugation.
Semantic Range
fetters, shackles, manacles, iron restraints for prisoners, instruments for chaining feet or hands, physical and metaphorical restraint
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root זיק (z-y-q), related to the idea of connecting or fastening, likely through the denominative sense of restraining by means of binding. The noun form (azikkim) designates objects used to bind—specifically, fetters or shackles.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term אֲזִקִּים appears in contexts concerning imprisonment, captivity, or execution of judicial authority, primarily in exilic and post-exilic texts (e.g., Jeremiah 40:1; 52:11; Ezekiel 19:9). It refers specifically to iron restraints, distinguishing them from more general terms for bonds (אֲסוּרִים - limitations, or מוּסְרוֹת - bindings). English translations such as "chains" or "fetters" generally reflect the base meaning but may not consistently capture the nuance that these are heavy, iron instruments of restraint applied to prisoners or captives. The term is used both literally for physical bondage and, occasionally, metaphorically to express total subjugation or powerlessness. In later periods, similar terminology was applied to punishment or civil restraint. The association with the root זיק also presents an implicit connection to other Hebrew words for links or connections, but אֲזִקִּים is distinct in its exclusive reference to instruments of human restraint.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a variation for זִיקָה; manacles; chains.
Bantu Hebrew
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זיק (z-y-q) — to connect, to fasten, to bind
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H246-01 |
בָּֽ/אזִקִּים֙ | baziqim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in chains | binding shackles | 1 |
H246-02 |
הָ/אזִקִּים֮ | haziqim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the chains | the binding-fetters | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H246-01 |
Jeremiah 40:1 | בָּֽ/אזִקִּים֙ | baziqim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in chains | binding shackles |
H246-02 |
Jeremiah 40:4 | הָ/אזִקִּים֮ | haziqim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the chains | the binding-fetters |