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זֶבַח

𐤆𐤁𐤇

Zevach

H2078 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זבח to slaughter for sacrifice, offer by ritual killing

Definition

A ritual animal sacrifice, particularly one involving the communal slaughter of an animal as an act of worship, thanksgiving, or to accompany a vow or fellowship with the deity; also used as a personal name, especially for a non-Israelite figure. In most contexts, refers to a specific type of offering characterized by a shared meal (unlike other sacrificial terms).

Semantic Range

sacrifice (ritual animal offering), victim of sacrifice, communal meal associated with sacrifice; personal name (Zebach, a Midianite leader)

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root זבח (z-b-ḥ), meaning 'to slaughter for sacrifice'. The noun זֶבַח directly reflects the act of ritual slaughter and thus denotes the offering itself. As a name ('Zebach'), it reflects the custom of names derived from important acts or concepts. The root connotes sacrificial slaughter, not general butchery.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, זֶבַח refers primarily to sacrifices where the worshippers and/or their families share in a communal meal, contrasting with עֹלָה (olah, burnt offering), which is entirely burnt. The term is frequent in priestly, Deuteronomistic, and prophetic writings and is central to religious practice, symbolizing relationship and fellowship with the deity. As a personal name, זֶבַח appears for a Midianite leader defeated by Gideon (Judges 8), illustrating the term's use outside Israelite contexts. English translations often render זֶבַח as 'sacrifice,' but this can obscure its specific ritual and communal character compared to other sacrificial words. In later Hebrew and post-exilic contexts, the semantic distinction sometimes became blurred. The translation 'Zebah' as a name was later rendered 'Zebah' or 'Zebach' in English, but the original Hebrew context may imply 'Slaughter' or 'Sacrifice' as a meaningful name rather than a generic label. Notably, none of the Hebrew uses employ later terms such as 'Jew' or 'Jewish,' and the word's meaning should not be conflated with later religious sacrifice or worship practices developed after the biblical period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as זֶבַח; sacrifice; Zebach, a Midianitish prince; Zebah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זבח (z-b-ḥ) — to slaughter for sacrifice, offer by ritual killing

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2076 זָבַח I will sacrificially slaughter
H2077 זֶבַח in the slaughter-sacrifice
H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ on the sacrifice-altar

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2078-03 זֶ֥בַח zevach HNp Zebah slaughter-offering 10
H2078-02 וְ/זֶ֨בַח vezevach HC/Np and Zebah and Zebach 1
H2078-01 וּֽ/כְ/זֶ֥בַח ukhezevach HC/R/Np and like Zebah and like Sacrifice 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2078-03 Judges 8:5 זֶ֥בַח zevach HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
H2078-03 Judges 8:6 זֶ֧בַח zevach HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
H2078-03 Judges 8:7 זֶ֥בַח zevach HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
H2078-02 Judges 8:10 וְ/זֶ֨בַח vezevach HC/Np and Zebah and Zebach
H2078-03 Judges 8:12 זֶ֚בַח zevach HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
H2078-03 Judges 8:12 זֶ֨בַח֙ zevach-2 HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
H2078-03 Judges 8:15 זֶ֣בַח zevach HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
H2078-03 Judges 8:15 זֶ֣בַח zevach-2 HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
H2078-03 Judges 8:18 זֶ֨בַח֙ zevach HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
H2078-03 Judges 8:21 זֶ֣בַח zevach HNp Zebah slaughter-offering
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