Lexical Definition

‎זֶרַע‎ zeraʻ (zeh'-rah) seed ^H:N-M
from ‎זָרַע‎

[idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.

• seed
• figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)

See Greek: γενεά · γένεσις · γένος · ἔθνος · καρποφόρος · κυριεύω · σπέρμα · σπόρος · υἱός

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎זֶ֫רַע‎ noun masculine^{Deut 28:38} sowing, seed, offspring (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic ‎זְרַע‎, ; Phoenician ‎זרע‎; Zinjirli id.; Arabic seed-produce, seed; Ethiopic Assyrian zêru, cultivated land, Belser^{BAS ii. 130,} compare Arabic ) — absolute ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Gen 47:23 =; ‎זָ֑רַע‎ Gen 1:29 +; construct ‎זֶרַע‎ Isa 5:10 +; ‎זְרַעֿ‎ Num 11:7 suffix ‎זַרְעִי‎ 1Sam 20:42; 1Sam 24:22* ‎זַרְעֲךָ‎ Deut 11:10 +; ‎זַרְעֶ֑ךָ‎ Eccl 11:6 +; etc.; plural suffix ‎זַרְעֵיכֶם‎ 1Sam 8:15 —

1. literal:
a. a sowing ‎הַשָּׂדֶה‎ ‎׳‎‎לְז‎ Gen 47:24 (J; + ‎אָכְלְכֶם‎; otherwise Lev 27:16 b, see below 2 c); ‎׳‎‎לֹא מְקוֺם ז‎ Num 20:5 no place for sowing (J E; + ‎וּתְאֵנָה וְגֶפֶן וְרִמּוֺן‎); compare ‎׳‎‎שְׂדֵה ז‎ Ezek 17:5 a field suitable for sowing; hence
b. sowing as regularly recurring at its season Gen 8:22 (J; || ‎קָצִיר‎, + ‎קֹר‎ ‎וָחֹם וְקַיִץ וָחֹרֶף וְיוֺם וָלַיְלָה‎), Lev 26:5 (H; || ‎דַּיִשׁ‎, ‎בָּצִיר‎; — compare Amos 9:13 below 2 a).

2. seed:
a. literally, sown, to raise crops for food, usually corn (wheat, barely, etc.) Gen 47:19; Gen 47:23 (J; compare vGen 47:14f.), Num 24:7 (JE); ‎נָתַן‎ ‎לַֹזּרֵעַ‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Isa 55:10 (|| ‎לֶחֶם‎), Deut 28:38 (‎רַב‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎), Lev 26:16 (H; with ‎זָרַע‎), Lev 27:16 a, ‎חֹמֶר שְׂעֹרִים‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ vLev 27:16b (both P), compare Isa 5:10.
b. figurative, of idolatry of Judah Isa 17:11 (|| ‎קציר‎); of fortunes of Zion ‎׳‎‎מֶשֶׁךְ הַזּ‎ Ps 126:6 the dropping of seed, i.e. the proper quantity for sowing (opposed to ‎אֲלֻמֹּת‎); Jer 35:7 (with ‎זָרַע‎, || ‎כֶּרֶם לֹא תִטָּ֔עוּ‎), compare vJer 35:9 (|| ‎כרם‎, ‎שׂדה‎); ‎׳‎‎מְטַר ז‎ Isa 30:23 (with ‎זָרַע‎, || ‎לֶחֶם‎ ‎תְּבוּאַתּ הָאֲדָמָה‎); also Deut 11:10 (with ‎זָרַע‎), Eccl 11:6 (c. id.); ‎זֵרוּעַ‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Lev 11:37, compare vLev 11:38 (both P); as yielding the crop ‎תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶ֑ךָ‎ Deut 14:22 the product of thy seed, compare
d. below; ‎׳‎‎וְנִגַּשׁ תוֺרֵשׁ בַּקּוֺצֵר וְדֹרֵךְ עֲנָבִים בְּמשֵׁךְ הַזּ‎ Amos 9:13, in figure of rapid and plentiful growth in the coming time; ‎הָאָרֶץ‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ producing a vine Ezek 17:5, of growth and prosperity of Israel; ‎׳‎‎הַזּ‎ Mal 2:3, read perhaps ‎הַזְּרֹעַ‎ (compare VB).
c. seed as product; the manna is compare with ‎גַּד‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎, coriander seed Num 11:7 (JE), Exod 16:31 (P); seed of herbs and trees Gen 1:11 (twice in verse); Gen 1:12 (twice in verse); Gen 1:29 (twice in verse) (all P). Especially
d. seed as corn-product, corn-crop, so (although not quite clearly) Deut 22:9 (with ‎זָרַע‎; || ‎תְּבוּאַת הַכָּ֑רֶם‎); plural 1Sam 8:15 (perhaps better arable lands, compare above As zêru; || ‎כרמים‎), ‎הָאָרֶץ‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Lev 27:30 (|| ‎פְּרִיעֵֿץ‎; otherwise Gen 47:24, compare above 1 a); ‎שִׁחֹר‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Isa 23:3 (|| ‎קְצִיר יְאוֺר‎); ‎בַּמְּגוּרָה‎ ‎׳‎‎הַעוֺד הַזּ‎ Hag 2:19 (|| ‎גֶּפֶן‎, ‎תְּאֵנָה‎, ‎רִמּוֺן‎, ‎עֵץ הַזַּיִת‎); ‎יָשִׁו֯ב זַרְעֶ֑ךָ וְגָרְנְךָ יֶאֱסֹף‎ Job 39:12 (of harvest); so perhaps ‎׳‎‎כְּבֵית סָאתַיִם ז‎ 1Kgs 18:32.
e. ‎זֶרַע הַשָּׁלוֺם הַגֶּפֶן‎ Zech 8:12, read perhaps ‎שׁלוֺם‎ ‎׳‎‎הַזּ‎ the crop is security (= secure), so ᵑ6 Or and others; > Ew Hi and others who translate ‎׳‎‎הַשּׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ the growth of peace, making ‎הַגֶּפֶּן‎ appositive — Verbs used with ‎׳‎‎ז‎ in these senses are: — usually ‎זַרַע‎ Gen 1:11; Lev 26:16; Jer 35:7 +; ‎הִפְרִיחַ‎ Isa 17:11 ‎נָתַן בְּ‎ = plant, sow Ezek 17:5 ‎נָתַן‎ yield Isa 55:10 ‎מָשַׁךְ‎ Amos 9:13.

3. seed = semen virile, ‎וְנִזְרְעָה זָ֑רַע‎ Num 5:28, and she shall be made pregnant with seed; usually ‎׳‎‎שִׁכְּבַתזֿ‎, flow of semen Lev 22:4 (H), Lev 15:16; Lev 15:32 (P; all with ‎תֵּצֵא‎), Lev 15:17 (P; with ‎הָיָה‎); as accusative modi ‎שׁכב‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ ‎׳‎‎אתאִֿשָּׁה שׁ‎ Lev 19:20 (H), Lev 15:18; Num 5:13 (both P); so also ‎נתן שְׁכָבְתּוֺ לְזרע‎ Lev 18:20 (‎לְ‎ genitives); compare ‎בְּהֵמָה‎ ‎׳‎‎אָדָם וז‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Jer 31:27 (as 2nd accusative after ‎זָרַע‎ q. v. 3 b).

4. seed = off spring:
a. rarely of animals, collective Gen 3:15; Gen 7:3 (both J). Usu.
b. of mankind, coll. = descendants, posterity; seed of the woman Gen 3:15 (J); seed of the patriarchs (especially Abraham) Gen 12:17; Gen 13:15; Gen 13:16 (twice in verse); Gen 16:10; Gen 22:17 (twice in verse); Gen 22:18; Gen 24:7; Gen 26:3; Gen 26:4 (3 t. in verse); Gen 26:24; Gen 28:13; Gen 28:14 (twice in verse); Gen 32:13* (all J), Gen 15:13; Gen 15:18; Exod 32:13 (twice in verse); Exod 33:1 (all J E), Gen 21:12; Josh 24:3 (both E; in both promised seed of Abraham restricted to line of Isaac), Deut 11:9; Deut 34:4; Neh 9:8 = a son as involving posterity Gen 15:3; Gen 15:5 (JE) compare below; phrase ‎זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם‎ Deut 1:8, compare Deut 4:37; Deut 10:15, so P, Gen 17:7 (twice in verse); Gen 17:8; Gen 17:9; Gen 17:10; Gen 17:19; Gen 35:12; Gen 48:4 ‎זִרְעֲךָ אִתָּךְ‎ Gen 28:4 (P; compare Num 18:19); see also below c. c. seed (= posterity) of other individuals Gen 21:13 (E; of Ishmael) Gen 24:60; Gen 48:19 (both J), Num 14:24 (JE), Lev 21:21; Lev 22:3; Lev 22:4 (all H), Num 17:5* (P), 1Sam 20:42 (twice in verse); 1Sam 24:22*; 2Sam 4:8; 1Kgs 2:33 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 11:39; 2Kgs 5:27; Jer 29:32; Ezek 43:19; Job 5:25 (|| ‎צֶאֱצָאֶיךָ‎), Job 21:8 (|| id.); especially of seed of David as anointed to reign Ps 18:51* = 2Sam 22:51 (|| ‎לִמְשִׁיחוֺ‎), as sitting on throne Jer 33:21, compare vJer 33:22 vJer 33:26, Ps 89:5*; Ps 89:30*; Ps 89:37* of Jehoiachin Jer 22:28; Jer 22:30, Jehoiakim Jer 36:31 (compare vJer 36:30); of child (son) as involving posterity Gen 38:8; Gen 38:9 (twice in verse) (of Er's seed by Onam); Gen 48:11 (all J), compare Gen 19:32; Gen 19:31 (J), 2Sam 7:12; Ruth 4:12; Lev 21:15 (H); phrase ‎זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם‎ of seed of Noah and his sons Gen 9:9 of Aaron Exod 28:43 of Phinehas Num 25:13 (all P); of David 1Chr 17:11 ‎לְזַרְעוֺ לְדֹרֹתָם‎ Exod 30:21 (P), compare Lev 21:17 (H; both of Aaron), see also b above ‎׳‎‎ז‎, of seed of righteous, especially Psalms: — Ps 25:13; Ps 37:25; Ps 37:26; Ps 69:37*; Ps 102:29* (|| ‎בָּנִים‎), Ps 112:2 (|| ‎דּוֺר ישׁרים‎), compare Ps 22:31* (on text see Che); of wicked Ps 21:11*; Ps 37:28.
d. specifically of a particular child (son) ‎אַחֵר‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Gen 4:25 (J); ‎אֲנָשִׁים‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ 1Sam 1:11 of children Lev 18:21; Lev 20:2; Lev 20:34; Lev 22:13 (all H), 1Sam 2:20 (compare ‎בָּנִים‎, ‎בָּנוֺת‎1Sam 2:21); children and grandchildren Gen 46:6; Gen 46:7 (P).
e. family Gen 17:12 (P; compare Assyrian zêr bit abišu Asrb^{Annals iii. 10}); note especially of royal family ‎הַמֶּלֶךְ‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ 1Kgs 11:14 ‎הַמַּמְלָכָה‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ 2Kgs 11:1 = 2Chr 22:10 ‎הַמְּלוּכָה‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ 2Kgs 25:25 = Jer 41:1; Ezek 17:13; Dan 1:3 = pedigree ‎בית אבותם וְזַרְעָם‎ Ezra 2:59 = Neh 7:61 = one's nation, as of same blood Esth 10:3 (|| ‎עַם‎). — Some verbs used with ‎׳‎‎ז‎ in these senses are: — ‎נָתַן‎, God subject Gen 15:3; Ruth 4:12 (followed by ‎מִן‎ of woman); ‎שִׂים‎ 1Sam 2:20 with man as subject ‎נתן‎ Gen 38:9 ‎הֵקִים‎ vGen 38:8 ‎׳‎‎חִיָּה ז‎, keep alive, or give life to, of animals Gen 7:3 of woman Gen 19:32; Gen 19:34 (followed by ‎מִן‎ of man). feminine especially as name for people of Israel, seed of Abraham Isa 41:8; 2Chr 20:7 (|| ‎עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל‎), Jer 33:26; Ps 105:6 (|| ‎בְּנֵי יעקִב‎); of Israel or Jacob 2Kgs 17:20; Neh 9:2 (|| ‎בני ישׂראל‎ vNeh 9:1), Isa 43:5; Isa 45:19; Isa 45:25; Jer 31:36; Jer 31:37; Jer 33:26; Ps 22:24* (twice in verse); 1Chr 16:13 (|| ‎בני יעקב‎); so ‎בֵּית ישׂראל‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Jer 23:8; Ezek 44:22 (ᵑ6 ᵐ5 Manuscripts Co strike out ‎בית‎); ‎בית‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ ‎יעקב‎ Ezek 20:5 in Esther. ‎הַיְהוּדִים‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Esth 6:13 so of Edom (seed of Esau) Jer 49:10, compare ‎מִוֶּרע מָדַי‎ Dan 9:1.
g. seed of Israel (or Jacob, or the people), is used also, by (later) prophets, of future generations, in addressing the people: — Deut 28:46; Deut 28:59; Deut 30:6; Deut 30:19; Deut 31:21, compare Num 18:19 (P; ‎לְזַרְעֲךָ אִתָּ֑ךְ‎, || ‎וּלְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנוֺתֶיךָ‎), Jer 30:10 = Jer 46:27 (Jacob and Israel here = people), Ps 106:27 || ‎צֶאֱצָא(יך ׅ‎ Isa 44:3 (Jacob and Jeshurun), Isa 48:19, compare Isa 61:9 also Jer 7:15; Isa 54:3; Isa 66:22 (|| ‎שִׁמְכֶם‎); ‎מִפִּי זַרְעֲךָ וּמִפִּי זֶרַע זַרְעֲךָ‎ Isa 59:21 of Jews (‎יהודים‎) Esth 9:27; Esth 9:28; Esth 9:31.

5. seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality; transition to this through such cases as those of ‎׳‎‎בְּרוּכֵי י‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Isa 65:23 (|| ‎צֶאֱצָאִים‎), compare Isa 61:9; Isa 65:9 ‎הַקֹּדֶשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Ezra 9:2 (of Israel), compare Isa 53:10 note, in good sense ‎צַדִּיקִים‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Prov 11:21 (opposed to ‎רַע‎); ‎אֱמֶת‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Jer 2:21 (|| ‎שׂוֺרֵק‎); ‎אלהים‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Mal 2:15 — ‎קֹדֶשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Isa 6:13 is a gloss; — in bad sense ‎מְרֵעִים‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Isa 1:4 community of evil-doers (|| ‎גּוֺיחֹֿטֵא‎, ‎עַם כֶּבֶד עָוֺן‎, ‎בָּנִים‎ ‎מַשְׁחִיתִים‎), Isa 14:20 ‎מְנָאֵף‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Isa 57:3 (|| ‎בני עֹנֲנָה‎); ‎שָֿׁ֑קֶר‎‎׳‎‎ז‎ vIsa 57:4 (|| ‎יִלְדֵיפֶֿשַׁע‎).

‎זְרַע‎ noun [masculine] seed (compare Biblical Hebrew I. ‎זרע‎); — construct ‎אֲנָשָׁא‎ ‎׳‎‎ז‎ Dan 2:43 seed (offspring) of men.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References