Lexical Summary zul: To be cheap, to be lightly esteemed, to be despised Original Word: זוּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lavish, despise A primitive root (compare zalal); probably to shake out, i.e. (by implication) to scatter profusely; figuratively, to treat lightly -- lavish, despise. see HEBREW zalal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to lavish NASB Translation lavish (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. זוּל verb lavish (compare Aramaic זוּל, be cheap, of little value, lightly esteem; similarly זלל q. v.) — Qal Participle הַזָּלִים זָהָב מִכִּיס Isaiah 46:6 ("" כֶּסֶף בַּקָּנֶה יִשְׁקֹ֑לוּ). Topical Lexicon Biblical UsageThe verb appears only twice, each time portraying a downward movement—either of resources or of reputation. In Isaiah 46:6 the people “pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales”, squandering treasure on a lifeless idol. In Lamentations 1:8 Jerusalem’s former admirers “despise her”, treating the covenant city itself as cheap and expendable. In both texts the action is deliberate and public; what was meant to be precious is treated as though it were of little worth. Idolatry and Squandered Wealth (Isaiah 46:6) 1. Economic Folly: Gold and silver—symbols of stability and blessing—are heedlessly lavished on a god that “cannot move” (Isaiah 46:7). The verb underscores the reckless abandonment of stewardship. Desolation and Public Contempt (Lamentations 1:8) 1. Civic Shame: Jerusalem, once “the perfection of beauty” (Lamentations 2:15), is now regarded as discardable. The verb paints the city as something tossed aside, paralleling the impurity imagery that surrounds her fall. Theological Significance • Worth and Worthlessness: Scripture consistently links true value to the presence and worship of God. When His glory is traded for an idol (Romans 1:23), resources and reputations become worthless. Moral and Pastoral Lessons 1. Stewardship: Believers are warned against pouring resources into pursuits that cannot last. The antidote is generosity toward kingdom purposes and trust in the Provider (Matthew 6:19–21). Intertextual Echoes • Proverbs frequently equates despising wisdom with courting ruin (Proverbs 1:7; 13:13), echoing the principle embodied by the verb. Typological and Christological Reflections Where Israel squandered gold and was despised, Christ “emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:7) yet was exalted. The voluntary abasement of the Son reverses the pattern of sinful waste and contempt, providing redemption for those who by faith have often treated God lightly. Practical Ministry Application • Preaching: Use Isaiah 46:6 to confront modern idolatry—materialism, self-worship, technology—and to call hearers to exclusive devotion. Contemporary Relevance The verb invites twenty-first-century believers to measure value in accord with eternal realities. In a world that prizes the spectacular yet readily discards people and truth, Scripture exposes the folly of wasting what God has entrusted and the peril of treating lightly what He calls holy. Forms and Transliterations הִזִּיל֙וּהָ֙ הַזָּלִ֤ים הזילוה הזלים haz·zā·lîm hazzaLim hazzālîm hiz·zî·lū·hā hizziLuha hizzîlūhāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 46:6 HEB: הַזָּלִ֤ים זָהָב֙ מִכִּ֔יס NAS: Those who lavish gold from the purse KJV: They lavish gold out of the bag, INT: lavish gold the purse Lamentations 1:8 2 Occurrences |
    |