זֶרַע

H2233. zera
זֶ֫רַע noun masculineDeu 28:38 sowing, seed, offspring (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic זְרַע, ; Phoenician זרע; Zinjirli id.; Arabic seed-produce, seed; Ethiopic Assyrian zêru, cultivated land, BelserBAS ii. 130, compare Arabic ) — absolute ׳ז Gen 47:23 =; זָ֑רַע Gen 1:29 +; construct זֶרַע Isa 5:10 +; זְרַעֿ Num 11:7; suffix זַרְעִי 1Sa 20:42; 1Sa 24:22; זַרְעֲךָ Deu 11:10 +; זַרְעֶ֑ךָ Ecc 11:6 +; etc.; plural suffix זַרְעֵיכֶם 1Sa 8:15; — 1 literal:
a. a sowing ׳לְז הַשָּׂדֶה Gen 47:24 (J; + אָכְלְכֶם; otherwise Lev 27:16 b, see below 2c); ז מְקוֺם ׳לֹא Num 20:5 no place for sowing (J E; + וְרִמּוֺן וְגֶפֶן וּתְאֵנָה); compare ז ׳שְׂדֵה Eze 17:5 a field suitable for sowing; hence
b. sowing as regularly recurring at its season Gen 8:22 (J; || קָצִיר, + וָלַיְלָה וְיוֺם וָחֹרֶף וְקַיִץ וָחֹם קֹר), Lev 26:5 (H; || בָּצִיר דַּיִשׁ,; — compare Amo 9:13 below 2a).
2 seed:
a. literally, sown, to raise crops for food, usually corn (wheat, barely, etc.) Gen 47:19, Gen 47:23 (J; compare Gen 47:14f.), Num 24:7 (JE); ׳ז לַֹזּרֵעַ נָתַן Isa 55:10 (|| לֶחֶם), Deu 28:38 (׳ז רַב), Lev 26:16 (H; with זָרַע), Lev 27:16 a, ׳ז שְׂעֹרִים חֹמֶר Lev 27:16b (both P), compare Isa 5:10.
b. figurative, of idolatry of Judah Isa 17:11 (|| קציר); of fortunes of Zion הַזּ ׳מֶשֶׁךְ Psa 126:6 the dropping of seed, i.e. the proper quantity for sowing (opposed to אֲלֻמֹּת); Jer 35:7 (with זָרַע, || תִטָּ֔עוּ לֹא כֶּרֶם), compare Jer 35:9 (|| שׂדה כרם,); ז ׳מְטַר Isa 30:23 (with זָרַע, || הָאֲדָמָה תְּבוּאַתּ לֶחֶם); also Deu 11:10 (with זָרַע), Ecc 11:6 (c. id.); ׳ז זֵרוּעַ Lev 11:37, compare Lev 11:38 (both P); as yielding the crop זַרְעֶ֑ךָ תְּבוּאַת Deu 14:22 the product of thy seed, compare d. below; הַזּ בְּמשֵׁךְ עֲנָבִים וְדֹרֵךְ בַּקּוֺצֵר תוֺרֵשׁ ׳וְנִגַּשׁ Amo 9:13, in figure of rapid and plentiful growth in the coming time; ׳ז הָאָרֶץ producing a vine Eze 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 ׳ז גַּד, coriander seed Num 11:7 (JE), Exo 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) Deu 22:9 (with זָרַע; || הַכָּ֑רֶם תְּבוּאַת); plural 1Sa 8:15 (perhaps better arable lands, compare above As zêru; || כרמים), ׳ז הָאָרֶץ Lev 27:30 (|| מְּרִיעֵֿץ; otherwise Gen 47:24, compare above 1a); ׳ז שִׁחֹר Isa 23:3 (|| יְאוֺר קְצִיר); הַזּ ׳הַעוֺד בַּמְּגוּרָה Hag 2:19 (|| הַזַּיִת עֵץ רִמּוֺן, תְּאֵנָה, גֶּפֶן,); יֶאֱסֹף וְגָרְנְךָ זַרְעֶ֑ךָ יָשִׁו֯ב Job 39:12 (of harvest); so perhaps ז סָאתַיִם ׳כְּבֵית 1Ki 18:32.
e. הַגֶּפֶן הַשָּׁלוֺם זֶרַע Zec 8:12, read perhaps ׳הַזּ שׁלוֺם the crop is security (= secure), so ᵑ6 Or and others; > Ew Hi and others who translate ׳ז ׳הַשּׁ the growth of peace, making הַגֶּמֶּן appositive — Verbs used with ׳ז in these senses are: — usually זַרַע Gen 1:11; Lev 26:16; Jer 35:7 +; הִפְרִיחַ Isa 17:11; בְּ נָתַן = plant, sow Eze 17:5; נָתַן yield Isa 55:10; מָשַׁךְ Amo 9:13.
3 seed = semen virile, זָ֑רַע וְנִזְרְעָה 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 שׁ ׳אתאִֿשָּׁה ׳ז שׁכב Lev 19:20 (H), Lev 15:18; Num 5:13 (both P); so also לְזרע שְׁכָבְתּוֺ נתן Lev 18:20 (לְ Genitives); compare ׳ז וז ׳אָדָם בְּהֵמָה Jer 31:27 (as 2nd accusative after זָרַע q. v. 3b).
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 13:15-16, (twice in verse); Gen 16:10; Gen 22:17 (twice in verse); Gen 22:18; Gen 24:7; Gen 26:3-4, (3 t. in verse); Gen 26:24; Gen 28:13-14, (twice in verse); Gen 32:13 (all J), Gen 15:13, Gen 15:18; Exo 32:13 (twice in verse); Exo 33:1 (all J E), Gen 21:12; Jos 24:3 (both E; in both promised seed of Abraham restricted to line of Isaac), Deu 11:9; Deu 34:4; Neh 9:8; = a son as involving posterity Gen 15:3, Gen 15:5 (JE) compare below; phrase אַחֲרֵיהֶם זַרְעָם Deu 1:8, compare Deu 4:37; Deu 10:15, so P, Gen 17:7 (twice in verse); Gen 17:8-9, Gen 17:10, Gen 17:19; Gen 35:12; Gen 48:4; אִתָּךְ זִרְעֲךָ Gen 28:4 (P; compare Num 18:19); see also below
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 22:3-4, (all H), Num 17:5 (P), 1Sa 20:42 (twice in verse); 1Sa 24:22; 2Sa 4:8; 1Ki 2:33 (twice in verse); 1Ki 11:39; 2Ki 5:27; Jer 29:32; Eze 43:19; Job 5:25 (|| צֶאֱצָאֶיךָ), Job 21:8 (|| id.); especially of seed of David as anointed to reign Psalm 18:51 = 2Sa 22:51 (|| לִמְשִׁיחוֺ), as sitting on throne Jer 33:21, compare Jer 33:22; Jer 33:26, Psa 89:5; Psa 89:30; Psa 89:37; of Jehoiachin Jer 22:28, Jer 22:30, Jehoiakim Jer 36:31 (compare Jer 36:30); of child (son) as involving posterity Gen 38:8-9, (twice in verse) (of Er's seed by Onam); Gen 48:11 (all J), compare Gen 19:32, Gen 19:31 (J), 2Sa 7:12; Rth 4:12; Lev 21:15 (H); phrase אַחֲרֵיהֶם זַרְעָם of seed of Noah and his sons Gen 9:9; of Aaron Exo 28:43; of Phinehas Num 25:13 (all P); of David 1Ch 17:11; לְדֹרֹתָם לְזַרְעוֺ Exo 30:21 (P), compare Lev 21:17 (H; both of Aaron), see also b above ׳ז, of seed of righteous, especially Psalms: — Psa 25:13; Psa 37:25-26, Psalm 69:37; Psalm 102:29 (|| בָּנִים), Psa 112:2 (|| ישׁרים דּוֺר), compare Psa 22:31 (on text see Che); of wicked Psa 21:11; Psa 37:28.
d. specifically of a particular child (son) ׳ז אַחֵר Gen 4:25 (J); ׳ז אֲנָשִׁים 1Sa 1:11; of children Lev 18:21; Lev 20:2; Leviticus 20:34; Lev 22:13 (all H), 1Sa 2:20 (compare בָּנוֺת בָּנִים,1Sa 2:21); children and grandchildren Gen 46:6-7, (P).
e. family Gen 17:12 (P; compare Assyrian zêr bit abišu AsrbAnnals iii. 10); note especially of royal family ׳ז הַמֶּלֶךְ 1Ki 11:14; ׳ז הַמַּמְלָכָה 2Ki 11:1 2Ch 22:10; ׳ז הַמְּלוּכָה 2Ki 25:25 = Jer 41:1; Eze 17:13; Dan 1:3; = pedigree וְזַרְעָם אבותם בית Ezr 2:59 = Neh 7:61; = one's nation, as of same blood Est 10:3 (|| עַם). — Some verbs used with ׳ז in these senses are: — נָתַן, God subject Gen 15:3; Rth 4:12 (followed by מִן of woman); שִׂים 1Sa 2:20; with man as subject נתן Gen 38:9; הֵקִים Gen 38:8; ז ׳חִיָּה, keep alive, or give life to, of animals Gen 7:3; of woman Gen 19:32, Gen 19:34 (followed by מִן of man).
f. especially as name for people of Israel, seed of Abraham Isa 41:8; 2Ch 20:7 (|| יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמְּךָ), Jer 33:26; Psa 105:6 (|| יעקִב בְּנֵי); of Israel or Jacob 2Ki 17:20; Neh 9:2 (|| ישׂראל בני Neh 9:1), Isa 43:5; Isa 45:19, Isa 45:25; Jer 31:36-37, Jer 33:26; Psa 22:24 (twice in verse); 1Ch 16:13 (|| יעקב בני); so ׳ז ישׂראל בֵּית Jer 23:8; Eze 44:22 (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Manuscripts Co strike out בית); יעקב ׳ז בית Eze 20:5; in Esther. ׳ז הַיְהוּדִים Est 6:13; so of Edom (seed of Esau) Jer 49:10, compare מָדַי מִוֶּרע 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: — Deu 28:46, Deu 28:59; Deu 30:6, Deu 30:19; Deu 31:21, compare Num 18:19 (P; אִתָּ֑ךְ לְזַרְעֲךָ, || וְלִבְנוֺתֶיךָ וּלְבָנֶיךָ), Jer 30:10 = Jer 46:27 (Jacob and Israel here = people), Psa 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); זַרְעֲךָ זֶרַע וּמִמִּי זַרְעֲךָ מִמִּי Isa 59:21; of Jews (יהודים) Est 9:27-28, Est 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 ׳ז י ׳בְּרוּכֵי Isa 65:23 (|| צֶאֱצָאִים), compare Isa 61:9; Isa 65:9; ׳ז הַקֹּדֶשׁ Ezr 9:2 (of Israel), compare Isa 53:10; note, in good sense ׳ז צַדִּיקִים Pro 11:21 (opposed to רַע); ׳ז אֱמֶת Jer 2:21 (|| שׂוֺרֵק); ׳ז אלהים Mal 2:15; — ׳ז קֹדֶשׁ Isa 6:13 is a gloss; — in bad sense ׳ז מְרֵעִים Isa 1:4 community of evil-doers (|| מַשְׁחִיתִים בָּנִים עָוֺן, כֶּבֶד עַם גּוֺיחֹֿטֵא,), Isa 14:20; ׳ז מְנָאֵף Isa 57:3 (|| עֹנֲנָה בני); שָֿׁ֑קֶר׳ז Isa 57:4 (|| יִלְדֵיפֶֿשַׁע).