רָזַן
𐤓𐤆𐤍
râzan
H7336 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be weighty or dignified, especially in the social or political sense; to possess and exhibit honor or authority. In noun usage (rare), refers to a person who holds a position of distinction or leadership (e.g., a ruler or prince). The verb itself is not attested in the standard Hebrew Bible, but nominal and adjectival forms occur and convey the sense of authority or honor associated with one holding significant status.
Semantic Range
to be weighty (metaph. honorable), to be distinguished, to be dignified, prince, ruler, person of authority
Root / Etymology
Root: רזן (ר-ז-ן). The original verbal root likely carried the sense 'to be heavy,' which in Hebrew metaphor implies honor, authority, or significance. From this root derive rare noun forms (such as רָזָן, 'ruler, prince'), and possibly adjectival forms indicating someone worthy of respect. The base meaning 'to be heavy' is metaphorically applied to denote dignity and social weight.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb רָזַן is not found as a verb in the standard Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, but its nominal form (רָזָן) appears only in poetic or late prophetic literature, most notably in Daniel and possibly in later biblical Hebrew or Aramaic contexts. The idea of 'weight' as a metaphor for honor or authority is common in Semitic languages (cf. כָּבֵד, 'to be heavy/important'), suggesting a semantic overlap. רָזַן as a root is distinct from the more common כָּבֵד in its usage, rarely employed and with royal or leadership connotations. English translations often render derived forms as 'prince' or 'ruler,' capturing the sense of social status but sometimes failing to reflect the nuance of dignity or honor implied by the metaphor of 'heaviness.' In later periods, the term may have acquired an Aramaic flavor and continued to be associated with officialdom or nobility. Related terms: כָּבֵד (to be heavy/honored), שַׂר (prince/official), נָשִׂיא (leader/chief), but רָזַן is markedly less common and often poetic or archaic in tone.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; probably to be heavy, i.e. (figuratively) honorable; prince, ruler.
Bantu Hebrew
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רזן (r-z-n) — heaviness, dignity, authority
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7336-03 |
וְ/רֹזְנִ֖ים | verozenim | HC/Vqrmpa |
and rulers | and weighty ones | 3 |
H7336-01 |
רֹֽזְנִ֑ים | rozenim | HVqrmpa |
O princes | weighty ones | 2 |
H7336-02 |
וּ֝/לְ/רוֹזְנִ֗ים | ulerozenim | HC/R/Vqrmpa |
or for rulers | and to weighty rulers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7336-01 |
Judges 5:3 | רֹֽזְנִ֑ים | rozenim | HVqrmpa |
O princes | weighty ones |
H7336-01 |
Isaiah 40:23 | רוֹזְנִ֖ים | rozenim | HVqrmpa |
princes | weighty ones |
H7336-03 |
Habakkuk 1:10 | וְ/רֹזְנִ֖ים | verozenim | HC/Vqrmpa |
and princes | and weighty ones |
H7336-03 |
Psalms 2:2 | וְ/רוֹזְנִ֥ים | verozenim | HC/Vqrmpa |
and rulers | and weighty ones |
H7336-03 |
Proverbs 8:15 | וְ֝/רוֹזְנִ֗ים | verozenim | HC/Vqrmpa |
and rulers | and weighty ones |
H7336-02 |
Proverbs 31:4 | וּ֝/לְ/רוֹזְנִ֗ים | ulerozenim | HC/R/Vqrmpa |
or for rulers | and to weighty rulers |