אֶזְרוֹעַ
𐤀𐤆𐤓𐤅𐤏
ʼezrôwaʻ
H248 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Forearm, arm (from shoulder to hand); by extension, can refer to strength or power symbolized by the arm. In specific contexts, may denote not only the physical limb but also, metaphorically, the might or agency of a person or nation.
Semantic Range
forearm; arm (as a body part); strength (symbolic usage); agency or power (metaphorical sense)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root זרע (z-r-ʻ), specifically from the noun זְרוֹעַ (zeroa‘), meaning 'arm.' The prefixed aleph is an archaic or dialectal variation; its etymological origin is uncertain but is likely a phonetic modification. The word thus shares its root meaning with זְרוֹעַ, which denotes 'arm' both in a literal and extended, metaphorical sense.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֶזְרוֹעַ appears in a very limited number of biblical passages, and is generally considered a variation or archaic form of זְרוֹעַ. Its use does not suggest a significant difference in meaning but reflects dialectal or orthoepic variation. The literal meaning (the arm/forearm) dominates, but in ancient Israelite context, the arm also symbolized strength, agency, or power, especially in poetic or figurative language. English translations consistently render it as 'arm,' though the full symbolic sense—of strength or might—can be lost. No substantive shift in meaning appears across the periods of biblical usage, though the term is rare and may have been supplanted by the more common form זְרוֹעַ in later texts. Not to be confused with related but distinct body parts such as יָד (hand). The English term 'arm' does not fully convey the Hebrew's nuanced extension into metaphoric usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a variation for זְרוֹעַ; the arm; arm.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זרע (z-r-ʿ) — to stretch out, to sow; to wield the arm, to show strength
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1872 | דְּרַע | and his arms |
| H2220 | זְרוֹעַ | in an outstretched arm |
| H2221 | זֵרוּעַ | sown produce |
| H2232 | זָרַע | let me sow seed |
| H2233 | זֶרַע | in their seed |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H248-02 |
וְ֝/אֶזְרֹעִ֗/י | veezeroi | HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
and my arm | and my arm | 1 |
H248-01 |
וּ/בְ/אֶזְר֣וֹעַ | uveezeroa | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and-with-arm | and with an arm | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H248-01 |
Jeremiah 32:21 | וּ/בְ/אֶזְר֣וֹעַ | uveezeroa | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and-with-arm | and with an arm |
H248-02 |
Job 31:22 | וְ֝/אֶזְרֹעִ֗/י | veezeroi | HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
and my arm | and my arm |