2196. zaaph

Lexicon

zaaph: Rage, wrath, storm

Original Word: זָעַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: za`aph
Pronunciation: zah'-af
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-af')
Definition: Rage, wrath, storm
Meaning: to boil up, to be peevish, angry

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fret, sad, worse liking, be wroth

A primitive root; properly, to boil up, i.e. (figuratively) to be peevish or angry -- fret, sad, worse liking, be wroth.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be vexed, be enraged
NASB Translation
dejected (1), enraged (2), looking...haggard (1), rages (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[זַעַף] verb be out of humour, vexed; be enraged (Aramaic rage against, זְעַף to storm, זַעֲפָא storm; compare Samaritan blow, breathe) —

Qal Imperfect יִזְעַף Proverbs 19:3; וַיִּזְעַף2Chronicles 26:19; Infinitive זַעְמּוֺ2Chronicles 26:19; Participle plural זֹעֲפִים Genesis 40:6; Daniel 1:10; —

1 be out of humour Genesis 40:6 (E); dejected, of face Daniel 1:10; followed by עַל Proverbs 19:3 fret against (AV).

2 be enraged (late: compare Aramaic above) 2 Chronicles 26:19; followed by עִם 2 Chronicles 26:19.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2373 (θυμός, thymos): Refers to passion, anger, or wrath, often used in the New Testament to describe intense emotions or divine wrath.
• G3710 (ὀργίζω, orgizō): To provoke or arouse to anger, used in contexts where individuals or groups are incited to anger.
• G5015 (ταράσσω, tarassō): To disturb, trouble, or agitate, often used to describe emotional or mental disturbance.

These Greek terms share thematic similarities with זָעַף, as they all convey aspects of emotional intensity, disturbance, or anger.

Usage: The verb זָעַף (za'aph) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a state of agitation or anger, often likened to boiling or seething. It conveys a sense of emotional disturbance or irritation.

Context: The Hebrew verb זָעַף (za'aph) appears in several contexts within the Old Testament, illustrating a range of emotional responses from mild irritation to intense anger. This term is often used to describe the emotional state of individuals who are experiencing a strong, negative reaction to circumstances or actions that provoke them.

In 2 Chronicles 26:19, the term is used to describe King Uzziah's anger when he was confronted by the priests for unlawfully burning incense in the temple: "Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry." Here, זָעַף conveys the king's intense emotional response to being challenged.

Another instance is found in Jonah 1:15, where the sea is described as calming down after Jonah is thrown overboard: "Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm." The use of זָעַף here metaphorically describes the sea's previous state of turmoil and agitation, akin to anger.

The term is also used in a more personal context in Nehemiah 3:20, where Baruch is described as working "zealously" on the repairs of the wall. While the primary meaning of זָעַף is anger, in this context, it suggests a fervent, intense effort, possibly driven by a passionate or zealous spirit.

Overall, זָעַף captures the essence of emotional upheaval, whether in the form of human anger or natural phenomena, and is a vivid expression of the boiling over of emotions.

Forms and Transliterations

וַיִּזְעַף֙ וּבְזַעְפּ֣וֹ ובזעפו ויזעף זֹֽעֲפִ֗ים זֹעֲפִֽים׃ זעפים זעפים׃ יִזְעַ֥ף יזעף ū·ḇə·za‘·pōw ūḇəza‘pōw uvezaPo vaiyizAf way·yiz·‘ap̄ wayyiz‘ap̄ yiz‘ap̄ yiz·‘ap̄ yizAf zō‘ăp̄îm zō·‘ă·p̄îm zoaFim

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 40:6
HEB: אֹתָ֔ם וְהִנָּ֖ם זֹעֲפִֽים׃
NAS: them, behold, they were dejected.
KJV: and looked upon them, and, behold, they [were] sad.
INT: and observed behold were dejected

2 Chronicles 26:19
HEB: וַיִּזְעַף֙ עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ וּבְיָד֥וֹ
NAS: for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged
KJV: Then Uzziah was wroth, and [had] a censer
INT: was enraged Uzziah his hand

2 Chronicles 26:19
HEB: מִקְטֶ֖רֶת לְהַקְטִ֑יר וּבְזַעְפּ֣וֹ עִם־ הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים
NAS: was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests,
KJV: to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests,
INT: A censer burning was enraged with the priests

Proverbs 19:3
HEB: וְעַל־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה יִזְעַ֥ף לִבּֽוֹ׃
NAS: And his heart rages against
KJV: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
INT: against the LORD rages and his heart

Daniel 1:10
HEB: אֶת־ פְּנֵיכֶ֜ם זֹֽעֲפִ֗ים מִן־ הַיְלָדִים֙
NAS: your faces looking more
KJV: your faces worse liking than the children
INT: see your faces looking more the youths

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2196
5 Occurrences

ū·ḇə·za‘·pōw — 1 Occ.
way·yiz·‘ap̄ — 1 Occ.
yiz·‘ap̄ — 1 Occ.
zō·‘ă·p̄îm — 2 Occ.