זָכוּר
a male (of man or animals)
Definition
The noun זָכוּר (zākûr) specifically denotes a male, whether referring to human males or male animals. It is used in contexts that require a clear distinction of gender, particularly in legal and ritual settings. In its four biblical occurrences, it consistently refers to males who are obligated to appear before God during pilgrimage festivals (Exodus 23:17, 34:23; Deuteronomy 16:16) or to male combatants in warfare (Deuteronomy 20:13). The term emphasizes the male gender as a category for religious duty or military action.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in legal portions of the Torah, specifically in Exodus and Deuteronomy. Its usage follows a clear pattern: in three instances, it specifies the requirement for all Israelite males to appear before the LORD during the three annual pilgrimage feasts (Exodus 23:17, 34:23; Deuteronomy 16:16). The fourth usage applies to warfare, commanding the Israelites to spare the women and children when conquering a distant city, but putting all the males (הַזְּכוּר) to the sword (Deuteronomy 20:13). It is a formal, categorical term.
Etymology
זָכוּר is technically the passive participle of the root זָכַר (zākar, H2142), meaning 'to remember' or 'to mention,' which would give it a sense of 'one remembered' or 'one mentioned.' However, in biblical usage, it functions as a synonym for the more common noun for male, זָכָר (zākār, H2145). This development likely stems from the idea of a male as the one 'named' or 'recorded' in genealogies and legal contexts, highlighting his recognized social and cultic role.
Semantic Range
This word carries theological weight in defining the community of worship. In the context of the pilgrimage feasts, זָכוּר identifies the obligated participants in Israel's corporate worship before God, reflecting the covenant responsibility borne by the adult males of the community. Its use in Deuteronomy 20:13 also touches on concepts of warfare ethics and divine judgment. Understanding this specific term enriches reading by highlighting how gender roles were formally embedded in Israel's religious and social covenant structures.
In ancient Israelite society, adult males held primary responsibility for legal, military, and family religious duties. The term זָכוּר in the festival laws reflects this cultural reality, where the appearance of every male before God was a tangible representation of the entire nation's covenant commitment. The command in Deuteronomy 20:13 reflects the brutal norms of ancient Near Eastern warfare, where the execution of adult male combatants was standard practice to prevent future rebellion, while women and children were often assimilated.
זָכָר (zākār, H2145) — The standard, more frequently used noun for 'male' of humans or animals, without the specific contextual obligations of זָכוּר. אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — A broader term meaning 'man,' 'husband,' or 'person,' often emphasizing an individual or a person of status, not solely biological gender.
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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