Lexical Summary zanab: To tail, to attack the rear Original Word: זָנָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tail From zanab (in the original sense of flapping); the tail (literally or figuratively) -- tail. see HEBREW zanab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition tail, end, stump NASB Translation stubs (1), tail (9), tails (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs זָנָב noun masculineJudges 15:4 tail, also (figurative) end, stump (Late Hebrew id., Assyrian zibbatu HomNS 368, Ethiopic  Arabic  , Aramaic  , דּוּנְבָּא, דַּנְבָּא) — ׳ז absolute Judges 15:4 (twice in verse) + 5 t.; suffix זְנָבוֺJob 40:17; plural זְנָבוֺת Judges 15:4; construct זַנְבוֺת Isaiah 7:4; — 1. a. tail of fox Judges 15:4 (3 t. in verse), of serpent Exodus 4:4 (J), of hippopotamus Job 40:17; b. figurative of common people, opposed to rulers Isaiah 9:13; Isaiah 19:15 (in both, ראֹשׁ וְזָנָב, "" כִּמָּה וְאַגְמוֺן; Isaiah 9:14 is incorrect gloss); of subject-people (opposed to ראֹשׁ) Deuteronomy 28:13,44. 2 end, stump (of firebrand, אוּד) in metaphor Isaiah 7:4. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 2180 (zānāḇ) designates the “tail” of an animal and, by extension, the last, the follower, or that which is ignoble in contrast to the “head.” Scripture employs the word in concrete narratives, covenant blessings and curses, and prophetic imagery. These occurrences together paint a multifaceted portrait of leadership and subservience, truth and deception, blessing and judgment. Literal Applications • Exodus 4:4 records the inaugural sign given to Moses: “Reach out your hand and grasp it by the tail.” By seizing the serpent at its most dangerous point, Moses demonstrates that divine authority extends over the created order and over Egypt’s gods, often depicted as serpents. Symbolic and Prophetic Usage Scripture moves from zoology to theology when “tail” contrasts with “head,” a pairing that frames issues of authority. Covenantal Blessing and Curse Motif The head/tail polarity in Deuteronomy establishes a moral order binding upon nations as well as individuals. Prosperity, leadership, and influence flow from covenant faithfulness; servitude and decline accompany covenant breach. This principle—orients the prophetic indictments of Isaiah and underscores the historical reversals witnessed in Israel’s monarchy and exile. Contemporary ministry finds here a paradigm: fidelity to God’s word yields spiritual ascendancy; abandonment of truth ends in servility to prevailing culture. Representations of Leadership and Deception Calling false prophets the “tail” (Isaiah 9:15) unmasks them as followers of popular sentiment rather than leaders guided by revelation. The contrast holds pastoral warning: positions of influence detached from truth become ignoble appendages, liable to divine amputation. Conversely, genuine spiritual leadership as “head” derives from submission to God’s authority, not from human ingenuity or majority opinion. Christological and Ministry Implications Although zānāḇ itself appears only in the Old Testament, the head/tail principle culminates in Jesus Christ, “the head over all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:10). The Church, as His body, is called to embody headship by proclaiming truth and serving as “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Ministry that succumbs to cultural tides mirrors the “tail”; ministry faithful to Christ’s commands reflects the “head.” Pastoral Reflections 1. Grasp the serpent by the tail: In confronting evil, confidence rests not in technique but in God’s commission (Exodus 4:4). Thus Strong’s 2180, though an anatomical term, serves as a theological marker tracing the trajectory from obedience to blessing, from deception to downfall, and ultimately pointing to the supremacy of the One who alone is worthy to be called the Head. Forms and Transliterations בִּזְנָב֑וֹ בזנבו הַזְּנָב֖וֹת הַזָּנָֽב׃ הזנב׃ הזנבות וְזָנָ֖ב וְזָנָ֛ב וזנב זְנָב֣וֹ זַנְב֧וֹת זָנָ֔ב זָנָב֙ זנב זנבו זנבות לְזָנָ֔ב לְזָנָֽב׃ לזנב לזנב׃ biz·nā·ḇōw biznāḇōw biznaVo haz·zā·nāḇ haz·zə·nā·ḇō·wṯ hazzānāḇ hazzaNav hazzənāḇōwṯ hazzenaVot lə·zā·nāḇ ləzānāḇ lezaNav vezaNav wə·zā·nāḇ wəzānāḇ zā·nāḇ zan·ḇō·wṯ zānāḇ zaNav zanḇōwṯ zanVot zə·nā·ḇōw zənāḇōw zenaVoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 4:4 HEB: יָֽדְךָ֔ וֶאֱחֹ֖ז בִּזְנָב֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ֙ NAS: and grasp [it] by its tail-- so he stretched KJV: and take it by the tail. And he put forth INT: your hand and grasp tail Stretch his hand Deuteronomy 28:13 Deuteronomy 28:44 Judges 15:4 Judges 15:4 Judges 15:4 Job 40:17 Isaiah 7:4 Isaiah 9:14 Isaiah 9:15 Isaiah 19:15 11 Occurrences |
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