Bible Word Study
זֶבֶד
zebed · a gift
זֶבֶד
a gift
Definition
The Hebrew noun זֶבֶד (zebed) means 'a gift' or 'endowment,' specifically a valuable present given as a sign of honor or as part of a significant transaction. In its single biblical occurrence in Genesis 30:20, it is used by Leah to name her son Zebulun, declaring, 'God has endowed me with a good gift (זֶבֶד).' Here, it refers to the gift of a child, a blessing from God. The word carries a sense of a bestowed benefit or dowry, implying something precious given freely.
Biblical Usage
זֶבֶד is used only once in the Old Testament, in Genesis 30:20. It appears in a narrative context where Leah, after bearing her sixth son, expresses gratitude to God for granting her this valuable 'gift.' The usage is personal and theological, framing a child as a divine endowment. No other patterns exist due to its single occurrence.
Etymology
זֶבֶד derives from the root verb זָבַד (zabad, H2064), meaning 'to give' or 'to endow.' This root conveys the act of bestowing or granting. The noun form specifically denotes the thing given—a gift or endowment. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the meaning of a gift or present.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, זֶבֶד holds theological weight as it connects human blessing directly to God's gracious giving. In Genesis 30:20, Leah acknowledges her son as a divine gift, highlighting themes of providence and gratitude in the patriarchal narratives. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by emphasizing that children are seen as endowments from God, reflecting His faithfulness in the covenant family line. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a 'gift' like זֶבֶד often carried social and relational significance, used in contexts like dowries or tributes. Leah's use of the word for a child aligns with the high value placed on offspring as a sign of blessing and security. The term implies something given to honor or establish a relationship, differing from a mere casual present. מַתָּנָה (mattanah, H4979) — a general term for a gift or present, often used in various contexts. שַׁי (shay, H7862) — a gift or offering, sometimes used for tribute. תְּשׁוּרָה (teshurah, H8670) — a gift, especially one brought when visiting.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]