תַּזְנוּת
𐤕𐤆𐤍𐤅𐤕
taznûwth
H8457 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Prostitution, sexual promiscuity, or illicit sexual behavior; by extension, infidelity or unfaithfulness, often employing metaphorical use to describe disloyalty to YHWH, typically through the worship of other deities. The term encompasses both literal acts of sexual immorality and figurative references to apostasy or covenantal betrayal.
Semantic Range
prostitution, illicit sexual conduct, sexual promiscuity; figurative idolatry, covenantal unfaithfulness, apostasy
Root / Etymology
From the root זנה (zanah), meaning 'to commit fornication, be promiscuous, act as a prostitute.' The noun תַּזְנוּת derives from this root, signifying the state or act of engaging in such behavior.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, תַּזְנוּת most commonly refers to acts of illicit sexual activity, especially prostitution or sexual promiscuity. However, it also appears frequently in prophetic literature in a metaphorical sense, describing Israelite unfaithfulness to YHWH via the adoption of foreign worship practices or covenants with other nations. This metaphor reflects the covenantal relationship between YHWH and Israel, conceptualized as a marriage, where apostasy (especially the worship of other gods) is likened to marital infidelity. The word's sense can oscillate between literal and figurative use, depending on context, and it is closely related to other terms built from זנה (such as זְנוּת z'nut, another noun for licentiousness or prostitution). Standard translations such as 'whoredom' or 'fornication' are frequently used but risk narrowing the semantic range to sexual immorality without capturing the deeper covenantal or communal undertones evident in biblical usage. In post-exilic texts, the metaphorical use became even more pronounced, as covenantal fidelity remained a key concern in prophetic and historical writing. English translations sometimes render the term 'idolatry' when the context is clearly metaphorical, but the Hebrew maintains sexual or marital imagery.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or תַּזְנֻת; from זָנָה; harlotry, i.e. (figuratively) idolatry; fornication, whoredom.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זנה (z-n-h) — fornication, prostitution, sexual promiscuity, unfaithfulness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2181 | זָנָה | with the prostitute |
| H2183 | זָנוּן | her habitual fornications |
| H2184 | זְנוּת | in their sexual infidelity |
| H2185 | זֹנוֹת | the prostituting women |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8457-09 |
תַּזְנוּתֶ֨י/הָ֙ | tazenuteyha | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
her prostitutions | her prostitutions | 6 |
H8457-02 |
בְּ/תַזְנוּתָֽיִ/ךְ | betazenutayikhe | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
in your harlotries | in your prostitutions | 3 |
H8457-06 |
תַּזְנוּתַ֛יִ/ךְ | tazenutayikhe | HNcfpc/Sp2fs |
your harlotries | your prostitutions | 3 |
H8457-11 |
וְ/תַזְנֻתַ֔יִ/ךְ | vetazenutayikhe | HC/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
and your harlotries | and your prostitutions | 2 |
H8457-08 |
תַּזְנֻתֵ֖/ךְ | tazenutekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your harlotry | your prostitution | 2 |
H8457-03 |
מִ/תַּזְנוּתָֽיִ/ךְ | mitazenutayikhe | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
from-your-harlories | from your prostitutions | 1 |
H8457-05 |
תַזְנוּתָ֖/ם | tazenutam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their whoring | their prostitution | 1 |
H8457-07 |
תַזְנוּתֶ֖/הָ | tazenuteha | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
her prostitutions | her prostitutions | 1 |
H8457-10 |
תזנת/ך | tzntkh | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your prostitution | your prostitution | 1 |
H8457-04 |
מ/תזנת/ך | mtzntkh | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2fs |
from-your-fornication | your prostitution | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8457-06 |
Ezekiel 16:15 | תַּזְנוּתַ֛יִ/ךְ | tazenutayikhe | HNcfpc/Sp2fs |
your harlotries | your prostitutions |
H8457-04 |
Ezekiel 16:20 | מ/תזנת/ך | mtzntkh | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2fs |
from-your-fornication | your prostitution |
H8457-03 |
Ezekiel 16:20 | מִ/תַּזְנוּתָֽיִ/ךְ | mitazenutayikhe | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
from-your-harlories | from your prostitutions |
H8457-11 |
Ezekiel 16:22 | וְ/תַזְנֻתַ֔יִ/ךְ | vetazenutayikhe | HC/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
and your prostitutions | and your prostitutions |
H8457-10 |
Ezekiel 16:25 | תזנת/ך | tzntkh | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your prostitution | your prostitution |
H8457-06 |
Ezekiel 16:25 | תַּזְנוּתָֽיִ/ךְ | tazenutayikhe | HNcfpc/Sp2fs |
your harlotries | your prostitutions |
H8457-08 |
Ezekiel 16:26 | תַּזְנֻתֵ֖/ךְ | tazenutekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your harlotry | your prostitution |
H8457-08 |
Ezekiel 16:29 | תַּזְנוּתֵ֛/ךְ | tazenutekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your-prostitution | your prostitution |
H8457-02 |
Ezekiel 16:33 | בְּ/תַזְנוּתָֽיִ/ךְ | betazenutayikhe | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
in your whorings | in your prostitutions |
H8457-02 |
Ezekiel 16:34 | בְּ/תַזְנוּתַ֔יִ/ךְ | betazenutayikhe | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2fs |
in your prostitutions | in your prostitutions |