זָרָא
disgust
Definition
The Hebrew noun זָרָא (zârâʼ) conveys a strong sense of disgust, loathing, or something that is abhorrent. It describes an object or situation that provokes profound revulsion. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Numbers 11:20, where it characterizes the Israelites' future reaction to the manna God provided, describing it as becoming 'loathsome' or disgusting to them due to their ungrateful craving for meat. The term implies not just mild dislike but a deep-seated, visceral rejection.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 11:20. It appears in the context of God's judgment against the Israelites for complaining about the manna and craving meat in the wilderness. The usage is specific to describing a divinely imposed state of revulsion toward a previously sustaining blessing, highlighting the consequence of ingratitude.
Etymology
זָרָא (zârâʼ) is derived from the root זוּר (zûr, H2114), which carries the core idea of being strange, a foreigner, or to turn aside. This root sense of estrangement or alienation developed into the concept of something being repulsive or loathsome. It is cognate with the verb זָרָה (zârâh, H2219), meaning 'to scatter' or 'winnow,' which shares a conceptual link of separation—here, separation due to disgust.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it illustrates the serious relational consequences of sin and ingratitude toward God's provision. In Numbers 11:20, the manna—a symbol of God's faithful care—becomes an object of disgust (זָרָא) as a direct judgment. It teaches that rejecting God's gifts can corrupt our perception of them, turning blessing into curse. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by emphasizing the profound spiritual and emotional alienation that sin creates between God and His people.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, disgust was often tied to ritual impurity and things considered abominable. The use of זָרָא for divinely provided manna would have been shocking, as it equated God's holy provision with something culturally and religiously repulsive. This heightened the severity of the Israelites' complaint and God's response.
תּוֹעֵבָה (tôʿēbâ, H8441) — denotes an abomination, often with a strong moral or ritual connotation, whereas זָרָא focuses on the visceral feeling of disgust. שִׁקּוּץ (shiqqûts, H8251) — refers to a detestable thing or idol, emphasizing ritual pollution more than personal revulsion.
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.
Full methodology & sources →