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אֶזְרָח

𐤀𐤆𐤓𐤇

ʼezrâch

H249 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זרח to rise, shine, spring up

Definition

A native individual or, in some contexts, a native tree or plant; primarily designates a person who is born in a specific land or region and thus possesses the rights or status associated with indigenity. Can refer to indigenous inhabitants distinguished from resident aliens (גֵּר ger). Occasionally, refers more generally to anything or anyone springing up naturally in the land, including flora.

Semantic Range

native-born person, indigenous inhabitant, native plant or tree, homeborn, someone with status by birth in the land; by extension, native tree or flourishing indigenous growth

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root זרח (z-r-ḥ), which means 'to rise, shine, spring up,' especially used of the sun or light. The noun אֶזְרָח (ʼezrâch) is formed from this root with a nominal pattern suggestive of someone or something originating or coming forth naturally (i.e., 'one who springs up' in the land).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, אֶזְרָח most often occurs in legal or ritual texts distinguishing the 'native' inhabitant (born Israelites, typically) from גֵּר—a resident alien. The term marks social and legal distinction: natives are typically assumed to possess full communal rights and obligations, especially in matters of religious festivals (e.g., Leviticus 16:29; 17:15) and access to cultic participation. In post-exilic or Persian contexts, the boundary between אֶזְרָח and other terms for inhabitants may shift but retains the core emphasis on birth in the land. English translations often render this as 'homeborn,' 'native,' or occasionally as 'citizen,' though 'citizen' may be anachronistic for biblical contexts. The term does not imply later concepts of nationality or citizenship, but specifically marks birth and legal status in the land of Israel. When used for flora (e.g., Psalm 37:35), אֶזְרָח refers to a luxuriant, indigenous tree, reinforcing the native aspect by botanical metaphor. The English term 'bay tree' in some translations is a narrowed interpretation; the original context emphasizes the native, flourishing quality rather than a specific species. Compared to related terms: אֶזְרָח emphasizes nativeness; גֵּר designates a sojourner or resident alien; נָכוּרִי (nakhri) means a foreigner, non-local. The distinction is central to the formation of Israelite communal boundaries, especially from the monarchic period onward. The word does not overlap precisely with modern concepts of ethnicity or political nationality but is bound to natal geography and communal integration.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָרַח (in the sense of springing up); a spontaneous growth, i.e. native (tree or persons); bay tree, (home-) born (in the land), of the (one's own) country (nation).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זרח (z-r-ḥ) — rise, shine, spring up

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2224 זָרַח as shining forth
H2225 זֶרַח your shining-forth
H2226 זֶרַח to Shining-One
H2227 זַרְחִי the Zerahite
H2228 זְרַחְיָה and Yah-has-shone-forth

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H249-02 הָֽ/אֶזְרָ֔ח haezerach HTd/Ncmsa the native the native-born one 6
H249-04 כְּ/אֶזְרַ֣ח keezerach HR/Ncmsc like a native like a native-born one 4
H249-03 כָּֽ/אֶזְרָ֔ח kaezerach HRd/Ncmsa as the native as a native-born one 3
H249-05 לָֽ/אֶזְרָ֑ח laezerach HRd/Ncmsa for-the-native to the native-born one 1
H249-01 בָּ/אֶזְרָ֖ח baezerach HRd/Ncmsa among the native native-born one 1
H249-06 וּ/לְ/אֶזְרַ֥ח uleezerach HC/R/Ncmsc and for the native-born and to a native-born of 1
H249-07 וּ/בְ/אֶזְרַ֥ח uveezerach HC/R/Ncmsc or a native-born and in a native-born of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H249-07 Exodus 12:19 וּ/בְ/אֶזְרַ֥ח uveezerach HC/R/Ncmsc or a native-born and in a native-born of
H249-04 Exodus 12:48 כְּ/אֶזְרַ֣ח keezerach HR/Ncmsc like a native like a native-born one
H249-05 Exodus 12:49 לָֽ/אֶזְרָ֑ח laezerach HRd/Ncmsa for-the-native to the native-born one
H249-02 Leviticus 16:29 הָֽ/אֶזְרָ֔ח haezerach HTd/Ncmsa the native the native-born one
H249-01 Leviticus 17:15 בָּ/אֶזְרָ֖ח baezerach HRd/Ncmsa among the native native-born one
H249-02 Leviticus 18:26 הָֽ/אֶזְרָ֔ח haezerach HTd/Ncmsa the native the native-born one
H249-04 Leviticus 19:34 כְּ/אֶזְרָ֣ח keezerach HR/Ncmsa as a native-born like a native-born one
H249-02 Leviticus 23:42 הָֽ/אֶזְרָח֙ haezerach HTd/Ncmsa the native-born the native-born one
H249-03 Leviticus 24:16 כָּֽ/אֶזְרָ֔ח kaezerach HRd/Ncmsa as the native as a native-born one
H249-03 Leviticus 24:22 כָּ/אֶזְרָ֖ח kaezerach HRd/Ncmsa as the native as a native-born one
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