2232. zara

Strong's Lexicon

zara: To sow, scatter seed

Original Word: זָרַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: zara`
Pronunciation: zah-rah
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-rah')
Definition: To sow, scatter seed
Meaning: to sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G4687 (σπείρω, speirō) - to sow

- G4703 (σπορά, spora) - seed, sowing

Usage: The Hebrew verb "zara" primarily means "to sow" or "to scatter seed." It is used in the context of agriculture, referring to the act of planting seeds in the ground to grow crops. This term is also metaphorically used in the Bible to describe the spreading of ideas, teachings, or descendants.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, agriculture was a central part of daily life and the economy. Sowing seed was a critical task that determined the success of the harvest and, consequently, the community's survival. The act of sowing was often associated with themes of faith and trust in God's provision, as farmers relied on favorable weather and divine blessing for a fruitful yield. The metaphorical use of "zara" in the Bible reflects the importance of spiritual sowing, where teachings and faith are spread to yield spiritual growth and blessings.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to sow, scatter seed
NASB Translation
conceive (1), gives birth (1), perpetuated (1), plant seed (1), scatter (1), set (1), sow (28), sowed (2), sower (2), sowing (2), sown (10), sows (2), unsown* (1), yielding (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. זָרַע verb sow, scatter seed (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian zirû TP^{Prism vi. 15}; Arabic ; Aramaic , זְרַע; Ethiopic but in Sabean דֿרא DHM^{ZMG 1883, 15 and in proper name, Id. in} MV^{10, pp. 242, 983}) —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular זָרַע Judges 6:3; 1singular וְזָרַעְתִּ֫י Jeremiah 31:27; suffix וּזְרַעְתִּיהָ consec Hosea 2:25; 3plural זָָֽרְעוּ Jeremiah 12:13; 2masculine plural זְרַעַתֶּם Haggai 1:6; וּזְרַעְתֶּם consecutive Genesis 47:23 2t.; Imperfect יִזְרָ֑ע Ecclesiastes 11:4; וַיִּזְרַע Genesis 26:12; suffix וַיִּזְרָעֶהָ Judges 9:45; 1singular אֶזְדְעָה Judg 31:8; suffix וְאֶזְרָעֵם Zechariah 10:9, etc.; Imperative masculine singular זְרַע Ecclesiastes 11:6; masculine plural זִרְעוּ Hosea 10:12 2t.; Infinitive לִזְרֹעַ Isaiah 28:24; Participle active זֹרֵעַ Isaiah 55:10 3t.; זזֹרֵעַ Proverbs 22:8; Jeremiah 50:16, etc.; Passive participle זָרֻעַ Psalm 97:11 (but on text see below); feminine זְרוּעָה Jeremiah 2:2; —

1 literally sow:

a. absolute sow (seed), do one's sowing Judges 6:3; Genesis 26:12 (J), Isaiah 28:24 (after ploughing חרשׁ); זִרְעוּ וקצרו ונטעו כרמים Isaiah 37:30 = 2 Kings 19:29; "" קצר also Micah 6:15; Leviticus 25:11 (H), Ecclesiastes 11:4; "" אסף Leviticus 25:20 (H); opposed to אכל Job 31:8; זֹרְעֵי עלכֿלמֿים Isaiah 32:20 (on construct compare Ges^{§ 130}, 1); with אתהֿשּׁנה הַשׁמינִת Leviticus 25:22; followed by הַרְבֵּה Haggai 1:6 (opposed to הָבֵא מְעָ֑ט).

b. with accusative of land אדמה Exodus 23:10 (J E; "" אסף), Genesis 47:23 (J); field (שׂדה) Leviticus 25:3 ("" אסף), compare Leviticus 25:4; Psalm 107:37; as passive participle אֶרֶץ לֹא זְרוּעָה Jeremiah 2:2 ("" מִדְבָּר).

c. with accusative of seed אֶתזַֿרְעֲךָ ׳ז Deuteronomy 11:10, compare Deuteronomy 22:9; Jeremiah 35:7; Leviticus 26:16 (H) Ecclesiastes 11:6; followed by חִטִּים Jeremiah 12:13 ("" קצר); compare also בִּכּוּרֵי מַעֲשֶׂיךָ אשׁר תזרע בַּשָּׂדֶה Exodus 23:16 (JE).

d. followed by 2 accusative לֹא תזרע כַּרְמְךָ כִּלְאַ֑יִם Deuteronomy 22:9; compare שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרַע כִּלְאַיִם Leviticus 19:19 (H); זַרְעֲךָ אשׁרתֿזדע אתהֿאדמה Isaiah 30:23; also of destroyed city וַיִּזְרָעֶהָ מֶ֑לַח Judges 9:45.

e. participle active as substantive זוֺרֵעַ Jeremiah 50:16 ("" תֹּפֵשׂ מַגָּל בְּעֵת קָציר); לַֹזּרֵעַ Isaiah 55:10 ("" לָאֹכֵל).

2 of shrub and tree producing, yielding seed, with accusative of congnate meaning with verb Genesis 1:29 (twice in verse) (P), compare Hiph`il 3. figurative:

a. of Yahweh's sowing (planting) Israel in the land וזרעתיה לי בָארץ Hosea 2:25 (We וזרעתיהו, object being Jezreel); on the other hand וְאֶזְרָעֵם בָּעַמִּים Zechariah 10:9.

b. with 2 accusative, of Yahweh's fructifying Israel and Judah יהודה זֶרַע אדם וזרע ׳וזרעתי אתבֿית ישׂראל ואתבֿ בהמה Jeremiah 31:27.

c. of moral action, זִרְעוּ לָכֶם לִצְדָקָה Hosea 10:12 ("" קצר); צדקה׳ז Proverbs 11:18; אַלתִּֿזְרְעוּ אֶלקֹֿצִים Jeremiah 4:3 sow not in among thorns (said of a few righteous deeds amid much wickedness); especially of evil-doing רוּחַ יזרעו וְסוּפָתָה יִקְצֹ֑רוּ Hosea 8:7; זֹרְעֵי עָמָל Job 4:8 ("" קצר); זוֺרֵעַ עַוְלָה יקצוראָֿוֶן Proverbs 22:8.

d. of Israel's practising idolatry זְמֹרַת זָר תִּזְרָעֶ֑נּוּ Isaiah 17:10 (2 accusative)

e. הזרעים בדמעה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹ֑רוּ Psalm 126:5 metaphor of distress followed by joy.

f. אוֺר זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק Psalm 97:11 read probably זָרַח, Vrss Ol Hu Bae Che and others

Niph`al be sown, fructified, Perfect3feminine singular וְנִזְרְעָה consecutive Numbers 5:28; 2masculine plural וְנִזְרַעְתֶּם consecutive Ezekiel 36:9; Imperfect3masculine singular יִזָּרַע Nahum 1:14; יִזָּרֵ֑עַ Deuteronomy 21:4; Leviticus 11:37; 3feminine singular תִּזָּרַע Deuteronomy 29:22; —

1 be sown:

a. subject אֶרֶץ, ולא תַּצְמִחַ ׳לֹא תִזּ Deuteronomy 29:22, compare (of נַחַל אֵיתָן) לא יֵעָבֵּד ׳בּוֺ ולא יִזּ Deuteronomy 21:4; in address to הָרֵי ישׂראל, וְנֶעֱבַּדְתֶּם וְנִזְרַעְתֶּם Ezekiel 36:9.

b. subject זֶרַע, זֶרַע זֵרוּעַ אשׁר יִזָּרֵעַ Leviticus 11:37 (P); figurative מִשִּׁמְךָ עוֺד ׳לֹא יִזּ Nahum 1:14 no more of thy name be sown, in judgment against Nineveh.

2 be fructified, made pregnant וְנִזְרְעָה זָרַ֑ע Numbers 5:28 (P; of woman).

Pu`al Perfect3plural זֹרָ֑עוּ Isaiah 40:24 of princes and judges under figure of trees ("" נִטָּ֑עוּ, שֹׁרֵשׁ בָּאָרֶץ גִּזְעָם).

Hiph`il Imperfect3feminine singular תַּזְרִיעַ Leviticus 12:2; Participle מַזְרִיעַ Genesis 1:11,12; —

1 produce seed, of herb, with accusative of congnate meaning with verb Genesis 1:11,12; apparently denominative from זֶרַע; compare Qal 2. 2. of a woman, = bear a child תַּזְרִיעַ וְיָיָָֽלְדָה זָכָר Leviticus 12:2.

זְרַע noun [masculine] seed (compare Biblical Hebrew I. זרע); — construct אֲנָשָׁא ׳ז Daniel 2:43 seed (offspring) of men.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bear, conceive seed, set with sower, yield

A primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify -- bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield.

Forms and Transliterations

אֶ֭זְרְעָה אזרעה הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים הזרעים וְאֶזְרָעֵם֙ וְזָרַעְתִּ֗י וְזֹרְעֵ֖י וְזֹרֵ֥עַ וְנִזְרְעָ֥ה וְנִזְרַעְתֶּֽם׃ וַיִּזְרְע֣וּ וַיִּזְרַ֤ע וַיִּזְרָעֶ֖הָ וּזְרַעְתִּ֤יהָ וּזְרַעְתֶּ֖ם וּזְרַעְתֶּ֗ם וּזְרַעְתֶּ֤ם ואזרעם וזרע וזרעי וזרעתי וזרעתיה וזרעתם ויזרע ויזרעה ויזרעו ונזרעה ונזרעתם׃ זְרַ֣ע זְרַעְתֶּ֨ם זְרוּעָֽה׃ זִרְע֧וּ זִרְע֨וּ זָרְע֤וּ זָרַ֣ע זָרֻ֣עַ זֹרְעֵ֖י זֹרֵ֣עַ זֹרָ֔עוּ זוֹרֵ֙עַ֙ זוֹרֵ֣עַ זורע זרועה׃ זרע זרעו זרעי זרעתם יִזְרָ֑ע יִזְרָ֖עוּ יִזָּרֵ֑עַ יִזָּרַ֥ע יזרע יזרעו לִזְרֹ֑עַ לַזֹּרֵ֔עַ לזרע מַזְרִ֣יעַ מַזְרִ֤יעַ מזריע נִזְרָ֔ע נזרע תִּזְרְע֖וּ תִּזְרַ֖ע תִּזְרַ֣ע תִּזְרַע֙ תִּזְרָ֔ע תִּזְרָעֶֽנּוּ׃ תִזְרַ֖ע תִזְרַ֣ע תִזְרַ֥ע תִזְרָ֔ע תִזְרָ֔עוּ תִזְרָ֙עוּ֙ תִזָּרַע֙ תַזְרִ֔יעַ תזריע תזרע תזרעו תזרענו׃ ’ez·rə·‘āh ’ezrə‘āh Ezreah haz·zō·rə·‘îm hazzōrə‘îm hazzoreIm laz·zō·rê·a‘ lazzoRea lazzōrêa‘ liz·rō·a‘ lizRoa lizrōa‘ maz·rî·a‘ mazRia mazrîa‘ niz·rā‘ nizRa nizrā‘ ṯaz·rî·a‘ tazRia ṯazrîa‘ tiz·ra‘ tiz·rā‘ ṯiz·ra‘ ṯiz·rā‘ tiz·rā·‘en·nū ṯiz·rā·‘ū tiz·rə·‘ū ṯiz·zā·ra‘ tizRa tizra‘ tizrā‘ ṯizra‘ ṯizrā‘ tizrā‘ennū ṯizrā‘ū tizraEnnu tizRau tizrə‘ū tizreU tizzaRa ṯizzāra‘ ū·zə·ra‘·tem ū·zə·ra‘·tî·hā ūzəra‘tem ūzəra‘tîhā uzeraTem uzeraTiha vaiyizRa vaiyizraEha vaiyizreU veezraEm venizraTem venizreAh vezaraTi vezoRea vezoreEi way·yiz·ra‘ way·yiz·rā·‘e·hā way·yiz·rə·‘ū wayyizra‘ wayyizrā‘ehā wayyizrə‘ū wə’ezrā‘êm wə·’ez·rā·‘êm wə·niz·ra‘·tem wə·niz·rə·‘āh wə·zā·ra‘·tî wə·zō·rə·‘ê wə·zō·rê·a‘ wənizra‘tem wənizrə‘āh wəzāra‘tî wəzōrə‘ê wəzōrêa‘ yiz·rā‘ yiz·rā·‘ū yiz·zā·ra‘ yiz·zā·rê·a‘ yizRa yizrā‘ yizrā‘ū yizRau yizzaRa yizzāra‘ yizzaRea yizzārêa‘ zā·ra‘ zā·rə·‘ū zā·ru·a‘ zaRa zāra‘ zārə‘ū zareU zaRua zārua‘ zə·ra‘ zə·ra‘·tem zə·rū·‘āh zeRa zəra‘ zəra‘tem zeraTem zərū‘āh zeruAh zir‘ū zir·‘ū zirU zō·rā·‘ū zō·rə·‘ê zō·rê·a‘ zō·w·rê·a‘ zōrā‘ū zoRau zōrə‘ê zoRea zōrêa‘ zoreEi zōwrêa‘

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 1:11
HEB: דֶּ֔שֶׁא עֵ֚שֶׂב מַזְרִ֣יעַ זֶ֔רַע עֵ֣ץ
NAS: plants yielding seed,
KJV: the herb yielding seed,
INT: vegetation plants yielding seed trees

Genesis 1:12
HEB: דֶּ֠שֶׁא עֵ֣שֶׂב מַזְרִ֤יעַ זֶ֙רַע֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ
NAS: plants yielding seed
KJV: [and] herb yielding seed
INT: vegetation plants yielding seed their kind

Genesis 1:29
HEB: כָּל־ עֵ֣שֶׂב ׀ זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע אֲשֶׁר֙
NAS: plant yielding seed
KJV: you every herb bearing seed,
INT: every plant yielding seed which

Genesis 1:29
HEB: פְרִי־ עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע לָכֶ֥ם
NAS: has fruit yielding seed;
KJV: of a tree yielding seed;
INT: has fruit tree yielding seed shall be

Genesis 26:12
HEB: וַיִּזְרַ֤ע יִצְחָק֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ
NAS: Now Isaac sowed in that land
KJV: Then Isaac sowed in that land,
INT: sowed now Isaac land

Genesis 47:23
HEB: לָכֶ֣ם זֶ֔רַע וּזְרַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־ הָאֲדָמָֽה׃
NAS: [here] is seed for you, and you may sow the land.
KJV: [here is] seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.
INT: now is seed may sow the land

Exodus 23:10
HEB: וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־ אַרְצֶ֑ךָ
NAS: You shall sow your land for six
KJV: years thou shalt sow thy land,
INT: six years shall sow your land and gather

Exodus 23:16
HEB: מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּזְרַ֖ע בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְחַ֤ג
NAS: [from] what you sow in the field;
KJV: of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field:
INT: of your labors what sow the field the Feast

Leviticus 11:37
HEB: זֵר֖וּעַ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִזָּרֵ֑עַ טָה֖וֹר הֽוּא׃
NAS: which is to be sown, it is clean.
KJV: seed which is to be sown, it [shall be] clean.
INT: sowing which is to be sown is clean he

Leviticus 12:2
HEB: אִשָּׁה֙ כִּ֣י תַזְרִ֔יעַ וְיָלְדָ֖ה זָכָ֑ר
NAS: a woman gives birth and bears
KJV: If a woman have conceived seed, and born
INT: A woman When gives and bears A male

Leviticus 19:19
HEB: שָׂדְךָ֖ לֹא־ תִזְרַ֣ע כִּלְאָ֑יִם וּבֶ֤גֶד
NAS: of your cattle; you shall not sow your field
KJV: with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field
INT: your field nor sow kinds A garment

Leviticus 25:3
HEB: שֵׁ֤שׁ שָׁנִים֙ תִּזְרַ֣ע שָׂדֶ֔ךָ וְשֵׁ֥שׁ
NAS: years you shall sow your field,
KJV: years thou shalt sow thy field,
INT: Six years shall sow your field and six

Leviticus 25:4
HEB: שָֽׂדְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תִזְרָ֔ע וְכַרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֥א
NAS: to the LORD; you shall not sow your field
KJV: for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field,
INT: your field nor sow your vineyard nor

Leviticus 25:11
HEB: לָכֶ֑ם לֹ֣א תִזְרָ֔עוּ וְלֹ֤א תִקְצְרוּ֙
NAS: as a jubilee; you shall not sow, nor
KJV: year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap
INT: shall have nor sow nor reap

Leviticus 25:20
HEB: הֵ֚ן לֹ֣א נִזְרָ֔ע וְלֹ֥א נֶאֱסֹ֖ף
NAS: if we do not sow or gather
KJV: year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather
INT: if not sow or gather

Leviticus 25:22
HEB: וּזְרַעְתֶּ֗ם אֵ֚ת הַשָּׁנָ֣ה
NAS: When you are sowing the eighth year,
KJV: And ye shall sow the eighth year,
INT: are sowing year the eighth

Leviticus 26:16
HEB: וּמְדִיבֹ֣ת נָ֑פֶשׁ וּזְרַעְתֶּ֤ם לָרִיק֙ זַרְעֲכֶ֔ם
NAS: to pine away; also, you will sow your seed
KJV: of heart: and ye shall sow your seed
INT: to pine the soul will sow uselessly your seed

Numbers 5:28
HEB: הִ֑וא וְנִקְּתָ֖ה וְנִזְרְעָ֥ה זָֽרַע׃
NAS: she will then be free and conceive children.
KJV: then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.
INT: she will then be free and conceive children

Deuteronomy 11:10
HEB: מִשָּׁ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּזְרַע֙ אֶֽת־ זַרְעֲךָ֔
NAS: where you used to sow your seed
KJV: from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed,
INT: in it where to sow your seed and water

Deuteronomy 21:4
HEB: בּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֣א יִזָּרֵ֑עַ וְעָֽרְפוּ־ שָׁ֥ם
NAS: has not been plowed or sown, and shall break
KJV: which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off
INT: been plowed or sown and shall break there

Deuteronomy 22:9
HEB: לֹא־ תִזְרַ֥ע כַּרְמְךָ֖ כִּלְאָ֑יִם
NAS: You shall not sow your vineyard
KJV: Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard
INT: shall not sow your vineyard two

Deuteronomy 22:9
HEB: הַזֶּ֙רַע֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּזְרָ֔ע וּתְבוּאַ֖ת הַכָּֽרֶם׃
NAS: which you have sown and the increase
KJV: of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit
INT: of the seed which have sown and the increase of the vineyard

Deuteronomy 29:23
HEB: אַרְצָהּ֒ לֹ֤א תִזָּרַע֙ וְלֹ֣א תַצְמִ֔חַ
KJV: [and] burning, [that] it is not sown, nor beareth,
INT: land is not sown nor beareth

Judges 6:3
HEB: וְהָיָ֖ה אִם־ זָרַ֣ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעָלָ֨ה
NAS: Israel had sown, that the Midianites
KJV: And [so] it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites
INT: it was when had sown Israel come

Judges 9:45
HEB: אֶת־ הָעִ֔יר וַיִּזְרָעֶ֖הָ מֶֽלַח׃ פ
NAS: the city and sowed it with salt.
KJV: the city, and sowed it with salt.
INT: razed the city and sowed salt

56 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2232
56 Occurrences

’ez·rə·‘āh — 1 Occ.
haz·zō·rə·‘îm — 1 Occ.
laz·zō·rê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
liz·rō·a‘ — 1 Occ.
maz·rî·a‘ — 2 Occ.
niz·rā‘ — 1 Occ.
ṯaz·rî·a‘ — 1 Occ.
tiz·ra‘ — 10 Occ.
tiz·rā·‘en·nū — 1 Occ.
ṯiz·rā·‘ū — 2 Occ.
tiz·rə·‘ū — 1 Occ.
ṯiz·zā·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
ū·zə·ra‘·tem — 3 Occ.
ū·zə·ra‘·tî·hā — 1 Occ.
way·yiz·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
way·yiz·rā·‘e·hā — 1 Occ.
way·yiz·rə·‘ū — 1 Occ.
wə·’ez·rā·‘êm — 1 Occ.
wə·niz·ra‘·tem — 1 Occ.
wə·niz·rə·‘āh — 1 Occ.
wə·zā·ra‘·tî — 1 Occ.
wə·zō·rê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
wə·zō·rə·‘ê — 1 Occ.
yiz·rā‘ — 1 Occ.
yiz·rā·‘ū — 1 Occ.
yiz·zā·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
yiz·zā·rê·a‘ — 2 Occ.
zā·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
zā·rə·‘ū — 1 Occ.
zā·ru·a‘ — 1 Occ.
zə·ra‘ — 1 Occ.
zə·ra‘·tem — 1 Occ.
zə·rū·‘āh — 1 Occ.
zir·‘ū — 3 Occ.
zō·rā·‘ū — 1 Occ.
zō·rê·a‘ — 4 Occ.
zō·rə·‘ê — 1 Occ.