2151. zalal

Lexicon

zalal: To be worthless, to be light, to be gluttonous, to be vile

Original Word: זָלַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: zalal
Pronunciation: zah-LAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-lal')
Definition: To be worthless, to be light, to be gluttonous, to be vile
Meaning: to shake, to quake, to be loose morally, worthless, prodigal

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

blow down, glutton, riotous eater, vile

A primitive root (compare zuwl); to shake (as in the wind), i.e. To quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal -- blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.

see HEBREW zuwl

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [זָלַל] verb shake (Arabic slip, agitate, shake; be agitated, quake, especially of earth-quake) —

Niph`al Perfect נָזֹ֫לּוּ shake, quake Isaiah 63:19 of mountains at ׳יs presence (Ges De Che Di Du; ᵐ5 ᵑ9 as if from נזל flow down); so Isaiah 64:2 (but here probably not original Che Di Du); read נָזֹלּוּ likewise Judges 5:5 (ᵐ5 Thes Stu Be Bl MV SS; ᵑ0 נָָֽזְלוּ, from נזל).

II. [זָלַל] verb 1. be light, worthless,

2 make light of (Assyrian zalâlu, be in ruins, COT^Gloss (Assurnasirpal^{Standard Inscr. 15}), Arabic = Aramaic (rare), easy; but זְלַל, , are more common (all intransitive)) —

Qal only Participle active זוֺלֵל Deuteronomy 21:20 2t.; זוֺלֵלָ֑ה Lamentations 1:11; plural זוֺלְלִים Proverbs 28:7, construct זֹלְלֵי Proverbs 23:20 —

1 be worthless, insignificant Jeremiah 15:19 (opposed to יָקָר) Lamentations 1:11 (of Jerusalem in distress).

2 transitive make light of = be lavish with, squander (compare II. זוּל), especially of gluttony בשׂר ׳ז Proverbs 23:20 ("" סֹבְאֵי יַיִן), absolute Proverbs 23:21; Deuteronomy 21:20 (both "" סֹבֵא), Proverbs 28:7.

Hiph`il Perfect suffix הִזִּילוּהָ Lamentations 1:8 causative of Qal 1 make light of, despise (opposed to כִּבֵּד); on form compare Ges^{§ 67}, R. 8 Rob-Ges, MV SS (> assigned to זוּל by Thes Kö^{Lgb. i. 471}).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G370: ἀναλίσκω (analiskō) • to consume, to spend
• G810: ἀσωτία (asōtia) • prodigality, wastefulness
• G821: ἄσωτος (asōtos) • prodigal, wasteful
• G2983: λαμβάνω (lambanō) • to take, to receive
• G4531: σαλεύω (saleuō) • to shake, to move
• G5013: ταπεινόω (tapeinoō) • to humble, to bring low

These Greek entries provide a broader understanding of the concept of moral looseness and physical instability, paralleling the Hebrew usage of זָלַל. The Greek terms further emphasize the themes of wastefulness, lack of restraint, and the physical act of shaking, offering a comprehensive view of the moral and physical dimensions associated with this Hebrew root.

Usage: • The term זָלַל is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe actions or behaviors that are morally loose or prodigal. It can also refer to physical shaking or quaking.

Context: • The Hebrew root זָלַל (zalal) is primarily associated with behaviors that are considered morally lax or prodigal. It conveys a sense of being loose or unrestrained, often in a negative moral context. This term is used to describe individuals who are wasteful or who engage in excessive indulgence, lacking discipline or moral fortitude.
• In the context of physical actions, זָלַל can also mean to shake or quake, suggesting instability or lack of firmness. This dual usage highlights both a physical and moral dimension to the term, emphasizing the concept of instability or lack of control.
• The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) provides instances where this term is used to describe prodigal behavior, often in the context of warnings against such lifestyles. For example, in Proverbs 23:21, the term is used to caution against the consequences of gluttony and drunkenness: "For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags."
• The moral implications of זָלַל are significant in the biblical narrative, often serving as a warning against the dangers of living a life without restraint or moral guidance. It underscores the importance of self-control and the consequences of living a life characterized by excess and moral looseness.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּזֹלֲלֵ֖י בזללי וְ֭זוֹלֵל וזולל זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים זוֹלֵ֖ל זוֹלֵלָֽה׃ זולל זוללה׃ זוללים מִזּוֹלֵ֖ל מזולל נָזֹֽלּוּ׃ נזלו׃ bə·zō·lă·lê bəzōlălê bezolaLei miz·zō·w·lêl mizzoLel mizzōwlêl nā·zōl·lū naZollu nāzōllū Vezolel wə·zō·w·lêl wəzōwlêl zō·w·lê·lāh zō·w·lêl zō·wl·lîm zoLel zoleLah zolLim zōwlêl zōwlêlāh zōwllîm

Englishman's Concordance

Deuteronomy 21:20
HEB: שֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ זוֹלֵ֖ל וְסֹבֵֽא׃
NAS: he will not obey us, he is a glutton and a drunkard.'
KJV: our voice; [he is] a glutton, and a drunkard.
INT: obey our voice glutton drink

Proverbs 23:20
HEB: בְסֹֽבְאֵי־ יָ֑יִן בְּזֹלֲלֵ֖י בָשָׂ֣ר לָֽמוֹ׃
NAS: of wine, [Or] with gluttonous eaters of meat;
KJV: Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
INT: heavy of wine gluttonous of meat

Proverbs 23:21
HEB: כִּי־ סֹבֵ֣א וְ֭זוֹלֵל יִוָּרֵ֑שׁ וּ֝קְרָעִ֗ים
NAS: For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
KJV: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty:
INT: For the heavy and the glutton will come rags

Proverbs 28:7
HEB: מֵבִ֑ין וְרֹעֶה זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים יַכְלִ֥ים אָבִֽיו׃
NAS: But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates
KJV: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] shameth
INT: discerning companion of gluttons humiliates his father

Isaiah 64:1
HEB: מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ הָרִ֥ים נָזֹֽלּוּ׃
NAS: That the mountains might quake at Your presence--
KJV: that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
INT: your presence the mountains quake

Isaiah 64:3
HEB: מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ הָרִ֥ים נָזֹֽלּוּ׃
NAS: the mountains quaked at Your presence.
KJV: the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
INT: your presence the mountains quaked

Jeremiah 15:19
HEB: תּוֹצִ֥יא יָקָ֛ר מִזּוֹלֵ֖ל כְּפִ֣י תִֽהְיֶ֑ה
NAS: the precious from the worthless, You will become
KJV: the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth:
INT: extract the precious the worthless my spokesman will become

Lamentations 1:11
HEB: כִּ֥י הָיִ֖יתִי זוֹלֵלָֽה׃ ס
NAS: and look, For I am despised.
KJV: and consider; for I am become vile.
INT: For I am despised

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2151
8 Occurrences

bə·zō·lă·lê — 1 Occ.
miz·zō·w·lêl — 1 Occ.
nā·zōl·lū — 2 Occ.
wə·zō·w·lêl — 1 Occ.
zō·w·lêl — 1 Occ.
zō·w·lê·lāh — 1 Occ.
zō·wl·lîm — 1 Occ.