Lexical Summary zaqaq: To refine, purify, distill Original Word: זָקַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fine, pour down, purge, purify, refine A primitive root; to strain, (figuratively) extract, clarify -- fine, pour down, purge, purify, refine. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to refine, purify NASB Translation distill (1), refine (2), refined (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [זָקַק] verb refine, purify **perhaps properly strain or filter through, compare Job 36:27; Isaiah 25:6. (Aramaic זְקַק; perhaps kindred with Assyrian za‡i‡u, wind, AsrbAnnals vi. 64 and Aramaic  , זִיקָּא violent wind, violent rain with whirlwind) — Qal Imperfect3masculine plural יָזֹ֫קּוּ Job 28:1 object זָהָב, Job 36:27 object מָטָר (see Di). Pi`el Perfect וְזִקַּק consecutive Malachi 3:3 ("" וְטִהַר) figurative, of purifying sons of Levi, like gold and silver כְּזָהָב etc. Pu`al Participle מְזֻקָּק refined, of gold 1 Chronicles 28:18, of silver 1 Chronicles 29:4: Psalm 12:7 (שׁבעתים ׳מ); of settled wines שְׁמָרִים מְזֻקָּקִים Isaiah 25:6. II. זקק (Late Hebrew זָקַק bind, fetter, Aramaic זְקַק id.; compare (perhaps from idea of restraint) Arabic Topical Lexicon Root Imagery of RefinementThe verb זָקַק evokes the removal of dross from metal and impurities from liquid. Whether smelter’s furnace or slow distillation, the action is purposeful, managed, and measured, aiming at clarity, strength, and fitness for sacred use. In Scripture the process stands as a parable of God’s sanctifying work, His Word’s reliability, and the final judgment that separates the precious from the worthless. Ancient Metallurgy and Distillation Archaeology from Timna in the Arabah and Faynan in Edom confirms that copper and gold production flourished across the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Blast furnaces, bellows, crucibles, and slag heaps demonstrate how artisans heated ore until molten metal separated from impurities. The identical Hebrew verb also describes the vapor-condensing cycle that produces refined wine or dew, reflecting technology known in the Near East by the second millennium B.C. These concrete practices formed a ready illustration for Israel’s poets, sages, and prophets. Survey of Biblical Occurrences 1. Chronicles 28:18; 29:4 – David’s preparation for the temple demanded “gold refined by weight”. The purity of the precious metal parallels the purity of worship and the holiness of the God who would dwell there. Job 28:1 – “Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.” The wisdom poem begins with mankind’s ability to purify metals, only to reveal that true wisdom remains hidden apart from revelation. Job 36:27 – Elihu notes that God “draws up the drops of water; they distill the rain from the mist,” a hydrological image of constant purification governed by divine sovereignty. Psalm 12:6 – “The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, purified sevenfold.” The psalmist contrasts human deceit with Scripture’s utter trustworthiness. Isaiah 25:6 – The eschatological banquet features “well-aged wine, refined,” portraying unalloyed joy and fellowship once the shroud of death is lifted. Malachi 3:3 – The coming Messenger “will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi” so that their offerings may be acceptable. The prophecy anticipates both John the Baptist’s call to repentance and the Messiah’s priestly work. Theological Themes Purity and Holiness – Refinement removes what offends God’s holiness. Temple gold and Levite hearts alike must pass through divine fire before being presented in service. Reliability of Revelation – Psalm 12:6 sets the standard for bibliology; just as silver endures intensive heat, Scripture withstands critical scrutiny and proves flawless. Judgment and Hope – Malachi’s refiner both burns away and preserves. His goal is not destruction but restoration, ensuring a faithful remnant and acceptable worship. Covenantal Fulfillment – Isaiah’s banquet signals the consummation of God’s redemptive plan, when every impurity is removed and creation itself is renewed. Foreshadowing in the New Covenant Peter proclaims that trials “prove the genuineness” of faith, “more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire” (1 Peter 1:7). Revelation 3:18 urges the Laodiceans to “buy from Me gold refined by fire.” The Old Testament verb thus finds its fullest expression in the crucible of Christ’s cross and the Spirit’s sanctifying ministry. Implications for Ministry Preaching – Present Scripture as flawless, able to withstand skepticism and transform lives. Discipleship – Expect the Lord to employ adversity as refining fire; teach believers to value purity over comfort. Corporate Worship – Pursue doctrinal and ethical integrity so that offerings of praise mirror refined gold. Mission – The refiner’s global banquet vision fuels evangelism: proclaim the invitation to be cleansed and join the feast. Prayer – Ask the Lord to “search me…and lead me” (Psalm 139:23-24), welcoming His refining work until faith is sight and impurity is no more. Forms and Transliterations וְזִקַּ֣ק וזקק יָזֹ֖קּוּ יָזֹֽקּוּ׃ יזקו יזקו׃ מְ֝זֻקָּ֗ק מְזֻקָּ֔ק מְזֻקָּ֖ק מְזֻקָּקִֽים׃ מזקק מזקקים׃ mə·zuq·qā·qîm mə·zuq·qāq mezukKak mezukkaKim məzuqqāq məzuqqāqîm vezikKak wə·ziq·qaq wəziqqaq yā·zōq·qū yaZokku yāzōqqūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 28:18 HEB: הַקְּטֹ֛רֶת זָהָ֥ב מְזֻקָּ֖ק בַּמִּשְׁקָ֑ל וּלְתַבְנִ֣ית NAS: of incense refined gold KJV: of incense refined gold INT: of incense gold refined weight the model 1 Chronicles 29:4 Job 28:1 Job 36:27 Psalm 12:6 Isaiah 25:6 Malachi 3:3 7 Occurrences |
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, Aramaic 
, זִיקָּא, זִיקוּקָא, Ethiopic 
all = (wine-) skin, etc.; also Late Hebrew זִיקָה, obligation; Aramaic 
ring).