זֵרוּעַ
something sown, i.e. a plant
Definition
The Hebrew noun זֵרוּעַ (zêrûwaʻ) refers to 'something sown' or 'seed that has been sown,' and by extension, the resulting plant or vegetation that grows from it. It specifically denotes the sown produce itself, not the act of sowing. In Leviticus 11:37, it describes seed or grain that is sown, which becomes ritually unclean if a dead animal falls on it, highlighting its state as a potential food source. In Isaiah 61:11, the word is used metaphorically, where the earth causes 'what is sown' (זֵרוּעַ) to sprout, symbolizing the growth of righteousness and praise among the nations as a result of God's action.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Leviticus 11:37, it appears in a legal, ritual purity context concerning agricultural produce ('seed for sowing'). In Isaiah 61:11, it is used in a prophetic, metaphorical context, comparing the sprouting of sown seed to the flourishing of God's salvation and justice. Both uses maintain the core meaning of 'sown thing' but apply it to literal agricultural law and spiritual metaphor respectively.
Etymology
זֵרוּעַ is a verbal noun derived from the root זָרַע (zāraʻ, H2232), meaning 'to sow' or 'to scatter seed.' It is part of a common Hebrew word family related to sowing and seed, including זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) for 'seed' or 'offspring.' The form זֵרוּעַ specifically emphasizes the result or product of the sowing action.
Semantic Range
Though a concrete agricultural term, זֵרוּעַ gains theological weight in Isaiah 61:11, where it illustrates God's sovereign power to bring forth spiritual growth from what He has planted. It connects the physical principle of sowing and reaping—a common biblical metaphor (e.g., 2 Corinthians 9:6)—to God's work of causing righteousness to spring up. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Isaiah by grounding the prophecy in the tangible reality of agricultural life, showing how God's spiritual promises are as reliable and life-giving as the growth of a sown seed.
In ancient Israelite culture, sowing was a fundamental, life-sustaining agricultural activity. זֵרוּעַ referred to the valuable sown seed or young plants in the field, representing invested labor and future sustenance. The concern in Leviticus 11:37 reflects the importance of maintaining ritual purity in all aspects of life, including food production. The metaphorical use in Isaiah would resonate with an agrarian society that intimately understood the process and hope inherent in sowing.
זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — 'seed' or 'offspring'; a broader term for seed itself or descendants, whereas זֵרוּעַ is specifically the sown seed or the resulting plant. מַטָּע (maṭṭāʻ, H4302) — 'planting,' 'plantation'; often refers to something deliberately planted, like a vineyard, rather than sown seed.
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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