Lexical Summary zaeph: Angry, enraged, sullen Original Word: זָעֵף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance displeased From za'aph; angry -- displeased. see HEBREW za'aph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom zaaph Definition vexed NASB Translation vexed (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs זָעֵף adjective out of humour, vexed, only of Ahab 1 Kings 20:43; 1 Kings 21:4 ("" סַר). Topical Lexicon Semantic Nuance זָעֵף portrays a brooding, inward-turned anger that festers into a sulky, resentful spirit. Unlike explosive fury, it smolders in the heart, poisoning motives and perceptions while outwardly appearing withdrawn or morose. Biblical Occurrences • 1 Kings 20:43 – After the prophet’s rebuke for sparing Ben-Hadad, “the king of Israel went to his house in Samaria angry and sullen.” Narrative Background Both texts center on King Ahab. In the first, God grants victory over Aram, yet Ahab’s disobedient leniency earns prophetic censure; his sullenness reveals wounded pride rather than repentance. In the second, his inability to obtain Naboth’s vineyard exposes covetousness and entitlement; again, זָעֵף surfaces when self-interest is frustrated. Theological Observations 1. Sullenness is a silent protest against God’s providence. Ahab’s moodiness follows direct confrontation with divine will—first through prophecy, then through covenant law protecting ancestral land. Character Study: The Sulking King Ahab embodies a leader who wants God’s blessing without God’s boundaries. His sullen anger signals refusal to submit. The contrast with David—who repents when confronted (2 Samuel 12:13)—highlights the hardening effect of unyielded anger. Historical Insight Ancient Near Eastern kings prided themselves on magnanimity and conquest. Ahab’s refusal to accept limits from prophet or peasant violates covenant principles unique to Israel’s theocracy, where even a monarch must bow to Torah. זָעֵף captures the clash between royal ambition and divine authority. Practical Ministry Application • Pastoral counseling: help believers identify sulking anger masked as depression; guide them toward confession and reconciliation (Ephesians 4:26-27). Intertextual Echoes While different Hebrew terms appear, the heart posture of Cain “very angry, and his face fell” (Genesis 4:5) parallels זָעֵף. Both narratives progress from inward gloom to outward sin, reinforcing Scripture’s consistent warning against harboring resentment. Lessons for Today Sullen anger may seem passive, yet Scripture treats it as spiritually perilous. Yielding rights, embracing God’s verdicts, and trusting His timing transform זָעֵף into worshipful surrender—an antidote modeled perfectly by Christ, “who, when He suffered, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). Forms and Transliterations וְזָעֵ֑ף וְזָעֵ֗ף וזעף vezaEf wə·zā·‘êp̄ wəzā‘êp̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 20:43 HEB: בֵּית֖וֹ סַ֣ר וְזָעֵ֑ף וַיָּבֹ֖א שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃ NAS: sullen and vexed, and came KJV: heavy and displeased, and came INT: his house sullen and vexed and came to Samaria 1 Kings 21:4 2 Occurrences |
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