זֶרַע
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
Definition
The Hebrew word זֶרַע (zeraʻ) primarily means 'seed' in the literal, agricultural sense, referring to the physical seed of plants (Genesis 1:11-12, 1:29). It extends metaphorically to denote 'sowing-time' or harvest seasons (Genesis 8:22). Most significantly, it is used extensively in a figurative sense for 'offspring' or 'posterity,' referring to human descendants, as seen in God's promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:7) and the prophecy of the 'seed of the woman' in Genesis 3:15. This concept of lineage is central to its theological usage.
Biblical Usage
זֶרַע is used 205 times across the Old Testament, with high frequency in Genesis, Leviticus, and the Prophets. In the Pentateuch, it often appears in covenantal contexts concerning descendants (e.g., Genesis 15:3, 5). In legal texts like Leviticus, it refers to agricultural seed for planting (Leviticus 11:37-38) or ritually clean produce. The prophets use it for both literal harvests and the future hope of a faithful remnant or messianic lineage (Isaiah 53:10, 65:9).
Etymology
Derived from the root verb זָרַע (zāraʻ, H2232), meaning 'to sow' or 'to scatter seed.' This root connection grounds the noun in the action of planting, from which its meanings of physical seed and, by natural extension, human progeny naturally flow. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages like Aramaic and Ugaritic with similar meanings.
Semantic Range
זֶרַע is profoundly theological, being foundational to the biblical concept of covenant and promise. God's covenant with Abraham is specifically tied to his 'seed' (Genesis 12:7, 15:18), a promise that narrows to the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and ultimately finds its fulfillment in a singular 'seed,' Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16). The 'seed of the woman' prophecy (Genesis 3:15) introduces the theme of messianic redemption. Understanding this word enriches reading by connecting physical lineage, agricultural cycles, and God's plan of salvation.
In an agrarian society, seed represented life, future provision, and continuity. A family's 'seed' (offspring) ensured its name, inheritance, and survival, making promises about descendants deeply meaningful. The annual cycle of sowing and reaping, governed by divine promise (Genesis 8:22), was a tangible picture of God's faithfulness and the hope for future blessing, intertwining agricultural and familial prosperity.
פְּרִי (periy, H6529) — 'fruit'; emphasizes the produced result, while זֶרַע is the source or means of production. || תּוֹלָדָה (tôlāḏâ, H8435) — 'generations' or 'genealogy'; focuses on the line of descent as a recorded history, whereas זֶרַע is the living descendants themselves. || יֶלֶד (yeled, H3206) — 'child'; a specific, individual offspring, while זֶרַע often denotes collective posterity.
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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