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זְאֵב

𐤆𐤀𐤁

Zeev

H2062 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זאב to tear, to be ravenous, predatory

Definition

Ze'eb—A personal name meaning 'wolf.' In the Hebrew Bible, refers specifically to a notable leader of the Midianites defeated by the Israelite judge Gideon. The word is a proper noun derived directly from the common noun for 'wolf,' likely intended to convey ferocity or predatory prowess. Outside of this name, the term does not carry independent lexical senses and does not indicate ethnic identity beyond the individual's attested historical context.

Semantic Range

personal name meaning 'wolf'; used as the name of a Midianite chieftain; does not extend beyond the proper noun in biblical usage

Root / Etymology

From the root ז-א-ב (זְאֵב), meaning 'wolf.' The personal name is formed directly from the common noun, a pattern typical for anthroponyms in ancient Semitic languages, which often employ animal names to connote characteristics such as strength or fierceness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ze'eb is named as one of two Midianite leaders defeated and killed by the Israelites in Judges 7:25 and 8:3; the other is Oreb. The use of animal names, particularly predatory species such as 'wolf,' is common for chieftain or warrior figures in both Israelite and neighboring societies. The name is attested only in the accounts of the Judges period and does not appear in post-exilic lists or later usage. English translations often transliterate the name as 'Zeeb,' but do not capture the meaning ('wolf') inherent to the original. The term does not signify group membership (e.g., 'Zeebites'), and the figure's Midianite identity is explicit in the biblical accounts; later traditions sometimes conflate Midianites with other groups, but this is not present in the biblical text.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as זְאֵב; Zeeb, a Midianitish prince; Zeeb.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זאב (z-ʾ-b) — to tear, to be ravenous, predatory

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2061 זְאֵב like wolves

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2062-03 זְאֵ֗ב zeev HNp Zeeb Ze'eb (Wolf) 4
H2062-02 וְ/כִ/זְאֵ֑ב vekhizeev HC/R/Np and like Zeeb and like Ze'eb 1
H2062-01 וּ/זְאֵ֔ב uzeev HC/Np and of Zeeb and Wolf 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2062-03 Judges 7:25 זְאֵ֗ב zeev HNp Zeeb Ze'eb (Wolf)
H2062-03 Judges 7:25 זְאֵב֙ zeev-2 HNp Zeeb Ze'eb (Wolf)
H2062-03 Judges 7:25 זְאֵ֔ב zeev-3 HNp of Zeeb Ze'eb (Wolf)
H2062-01 Judges 7:25 וּ/זְאֵ֔ב uzeev HC/Np and of Zeeb and Wolf
H2062-03 Judges 8:3 זְאֵ֔ב zeev HNp Zeeb Ze'eb (Wolf)
H2062-02 Psalms 83:12 וְ/כִ/זְאֵ֑ב vekhizeev HC/R/Np and like Zeeb and like Ze'eb
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