זוּר
to press together, tighten
Definition
The Hebrew verb זוּר (zûwr) primarily means 'to press together' or 'to tighten.' In its three biblical occurrences, it describes the action of squeezing or compressing something forcefully. In Judges 6:38, it refers to Gideon wringing dew from a fleece, emphasizing the physical act of pressing out liquid. In Job 39:15, the sense shifts to 'trampling' or 'crushing,' as an ostrich might treat its eggs. Finally, in Isaiah 1:6, it depicts wounds that are 'pressed' or 'purulent,' conveying a sense of festering and untreated injury.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only three times in the Old Testament, each in a distinct context that illustrates physical pressure or compression. In Judges 6:38, it describes a miraculous sign involving a fleece. In the poetic book of Job (39:15), it metaphorically describes careless behavior toward offspring. In the prophetic book of Isaiah (1:6), it is part of a graphic medical metaphor for Judah's spiritual condition. There is no clear pattern across books, as each usage is tailored to its specific literary context.
Etymology
זוּר is a primitive root. It is compared to the root צוֹק (H6695), which carries meanings related to distress, constraint, or pressing, suggesting a shared semantic field of physical pressure or tightness. The development of meaning appears to move from the concrete action of pressing or wringing to more metaphorical applications of crushing or causing to fester.
Semantic Range
While not a major theological term, זוּר enriches understanding in its specific contexts. In Isaiah 1:6, its use in describing wounds 'pressed' and festering powerfully illustrates the spiritual corruption and neglect of God's people, adding visceral impact to the prophet's diagnosis. In Judges 6:38, the precise action of wringing the fleece highlights the tangible, confirmatory nature of the sign God gave Gideon, underscoring God's patience with human doubt.
The action in Judges 6:38 reflects the tangible, hands-on reality of an agrarian and pastoral society, where wringing moisture from wool was a familiar task. The description in Isaiah 1:6 employs medical imagery that would have been immediately understood in an ancient context lacking modern medicine, where untreated wounds were a common and serious threat. The ostrich's behavior in Job 39:15 was likely proverbial for neglect, based on ancient observational knowledge.
צוֹק (tsûq, H6695) — Often means to constrain, distress, or press upon, more commonly used for metaphorical or emotional pressure. דָּחַק (dâchaq, H1760) — To thrust, crowd, or oppress; often used for physical pushing or political/military pressure.
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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