Lexical Summary zaqen: To be old, to grow old, to become aged Original Word: זָקֵן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance aged man, old man A primitive root; to be old -- aged man, be (wax) old (man). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as zaqan Definition to be or become old NASB Translation am so old (1), am old (3), am...old (1), being old (1), grow old (1), grown old (1), old (17), reached a old (1), reached old (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs זָקֵן verb be or become old (compare, according to Thes, Arabic  a she-camel that lets her lower lip hang down, see Lane968;  decrepit man) — Qal Perfect3masculine singular זָקֵן Genesis 18:12 14t. (often hard to distinguished from predicate adjective זָקֵן q. v.); 3feminine singular זָָֽקְנָה Proverbs 23:22; 2masculine singular זָקַנְתָּ 1 Samuel 8:5; זָקַ֫נְתָּה Joshua 13:1; 1singular זָקַנְתִּי Joshua 23:2 3t.; זָקַנְ֑תִּי Genesis 18:13; Genesis 27:2; Imperfect וַיִּזְקַן2Chronicles 24:15; — be (or become) old Genesis 18:12,13; Genesis 19:31; Genesis 27:1,2(all J), 1 Samuel 2:22; 1 Samuel 4:18; 1 Samuel 8:1; 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Samuel 12:2; 1 Samuel 17:122; Sam 1 Samuel 19:33; 1 Kings 1:1,15; 2 Kings 4:14; also Genesis 24:1 ("" בא בימים), so Joshua 13:1 (twice in verse); Joshua 23:1,2("" here בָּאתִי בימים), 1 Chronicles 23:1 ("" שָׂבַע ימים), 1 Chronicles 24:15 ("" id.); Proverbs 23:22; Psalm 37:25 (opposed to "" היה נער); note especially זָקַנְתִּי מִהְיוֺת לאישׁ Ruth 1:12 I am too old to belong to a man (husband). Hiph`il only Imperfect3masculine singular יַזְקִין inchoate shew age, grow old = senescere Ew§ 122 c, compare Di; of youth Proverbs 22:6; of tree-root Job 14:8. Topical Lexicon Overview The verb זָקֵן (Strong’s 2204) describes the process of growing old. Occurring about twenty‐six times, it portrays advanced age in individuals, trees, and nations alike. Its appearances cluster around key covenant figures, transitional moments of leadership, and poetic reflections on God’s faithfulness through the years. Patterns of Usage 1. Patriarchal narratives: Genesis 18:12; 24:1; 27:1; 35:29. Old Age as Covenant Blessing Old age is consistently pictured as a gift that testifies to God’s covenantal goodness. “Now Abraham was old, advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way” (Genesis 24:1). Long life crowns a faithful walk; the same formula signals divine favor upon Isaac (Genesis 27:1), Jacob (Genesis 35:29), Joshua (Joshua 23:1), David (1 Kings 1:1), and Jehoiada the priest (2 Chronicles 24:15). Each life, while physically declining, stands as proof that the Lord “prolongs the days of the righteous” (compare Deuteronomy 6:2). Old Age and Leadership Transitions The verb introduces nearly every major handover of authority in Israel’s story. When a leader is said to have “grown old,” succession immediately follows: In each account, advanced age necessitates intentional transfer of responsibility, underscoring the biblical principle of generational faithfulness (Psalm 71:18). Wisdom and Counsel of the Aged Old age carries moral authority. Job’s friends assume that “age should speak, and a multitude of years should teach wisdom” (Job 32:7). Elders at the gate judged disputes; Barzillai declines royal favor because at eighty he can no longer taste or hear well, yet his counsel shapes David’s mercy toward Chimham (2 Samuel 19:31–40). Zaqen thus links to the notion of elder (זָקֵן as noun) whose experience guides communal life (Ruth 4:2). Respect for the Aged in Community Ethics Leviticus 19:32 (using the noun form) commands, “You are to rise in the presence of the aged, fear your God.” Although a different grammatical form, the shared root frames society’s duty: reverence for the elderly equals reverence for God. Isaiah indicts Babylon for oppressing those who had “grown old” (Isaiah 47:6), whereas Zechariah’s vision of harmless streets where “old men and old women will again sit” (Zechariah 8:4) pictures covenant restoration. Metaphorical Uses Job 14:8 compares a tree whose “root grows old in the ground” to hope seemingly cut off yet later revived—an image of resurrection life. Nations can “grow old” in rebellion (Isaiah 46:4), but the Lord pledges, “Even to your old age I will be the same… I will bear you.” The verb therefore highlights both human frailty and divine constancy. Theological Reflections 1. Continuity of Providence: From Abraham to an aged remnant in exile, old age testifies that God sustains His people across centuries. Application for Ministry Today • Encourage multigenerational leadership teams patterned after biblical transitions. Forms and Transliterations וַיִּזְקַ֧ן ויזקן זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי זָקְנָ֥ה זָקֵ֑ן זָקֵ֔ן זָקֵ֖ן זָקֵ֣ן זָקֵ֥ן זָקֵֽן׃ זָקַ֑נְתִּי זָקַ֔נְתִּי זָקַ֔נְתָּ זָקַ֖נְתִּי זָקַ֙נְתָּה֙ זָקַ֣נְתִּי זָקַֽנְתִּי׃ זקן זקן׃ זקנה זקנת זקנתה זקנתי זקנתי׃ יַ֝זְקִ֗ין יַזְקִ֣ין יזקין vaiyizKan way·yiz·qan wayyizqan yaz·qîn yazKin yazqîn zā·qan·tā zā·qan·tāh zā·qan·tî zā·qə·nāh zā·qên zaKanta zaKantah zaKanti zaKen zakeNah zāqantā zāqantāh zāqantî zāqên zāqənāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:12 HEB: עֶדְנָ֔ה וַֽאדֹנִ֖י זָקֵֽן׃ NAS: pleasure, my lord being old also? KJV: my lord being old also? INT: have pleasure my lord being Genesis 18:13 Genesis 19:31 Genesis 24:1 Genesis 27:1 Genesis 27:2 Joshua 13:1 Joshua 13:1 Joshua 23:2 Ruth 1:12 1 Samuel 2:22 1 Samuel 4:18 1 Samuel 8:1 1 Samuel 8:5 1 Samuel 12:2 1 Samuel 17:12 2 Samuel 19:32 1 Kings 1:1 1 Kings 1:15 2 Kings 4:14 1 Chronicles 23:1 2 Chronicles 24:15 Job 14:8 Psalm 37:25 Proverbs 22:6 26 Occurrences |
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