הַלֵּזוּ
that
Definition
The Hebrew pronoun הַלֵּזוּ (hallêzûw) is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this one.' It functions to point out or specify a particular person, place, or thing, often with a sense of emphasis or distinction. It is a variant form of the more common הַלָּזֶה (hallâzeh, H1976), which carries a similar meaning. Its single biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 36:35 uses it to emphatically identify a transformed land, underscoring a specific, miraculous result.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 36:35. In this prophetic context, it is used to emphatically point to the restored land of Israel, declaring, 'And they will say, "This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden."' Its usage here serves a rhetorical function, directing attention to the specific, dramatic change God will enact, making the desolate land (הָאָרֶץ הַלֵּזוּ) the direct object of awe and testimony.
Etymology
הַלֵּזוּ (hallêzûw) is a later or variant morphological form of the demonstrative pronoun הַלָּזֶה (hallâzeh, H1976), which itself is a combination of the definite article 'הַ' (ha-) and the demonstrative element 'לָּזֶה' (lâzeh). The root is shared with other demonstratives like 'זֶה' (zeh, H2088) meaning 'this.' The shift to the '-ûw' ending may reflect a dialectical or stylistic variation, but the core meaning of pointing or specifying remains consistent.
Semantic Range
While a simple pronoun, its use in Ezekiel 36:35 is theologically significant. It serves as a linguistic marker in a key prophecy of national restoration and new creation. By pointing emphatically to 'this land,' it highlights the tangible, observable evidence of God's covenant faithfulness and power to redeem and renew. Understanding this specificity enriches the reading of Ezekiel's vision, showing that God's promises result in a concrete, identifiable transformation that becomes a testimony to the nations.
In ancient Hebrew, demonstrative pronouns like this one were crucial for oral storytelling and legal discourse to clearly identify subjects. The emphatic form used here would have grabbed the listener's attention, signaling that the following description—a desolate land becoming like Eden—was of paramount importance. This rhetorical device was common in prophetic speech to underscore a divine act that demanded recognition and witness from the audience.
הַלָּזֶה (hallâzeh, H1976) — The more common variant form with identical meaning. זֶה (zeh, H2088) — A basic demonstrative ('this'), less emphatic and without the definite article. הוּא (hû', H1931) — The third person pronoun ('he, it, that'), used for simple reference rather than pointed demonstration.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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