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זוֹ

𐤆𐤅

zôw

H2097 pronoun

SILEX Entry

Root זה to indicate, to point out, to specify

Definition

Demonstrative pronoun indicating a specific object, person, or idea, generally translated as 'this' or 'that' in English, with emphasis or particularity in context. Used to single out or specify something previously mentioned or immediately present. The precise sense can vary with deixis and syntactic role, sometimes conveying 'this one,' 'this here,' or even functioning as an intensifier in poetic or rhetorical constructions.

Semantic Range

this (feminine), that (feminine), this one (feminine), that one (feminine), specifically or especially this (feminine), poetic or archaic demonstrative

Root / Etymology

Root: זה (z-h), meaning 'this.' זוֹ (zôw) is a variant form, probably developed by vowel alternation for phonological or dialectal reasons. The precise development is debated, but it appears as a feminine singular demonstrative, probably related etymologically to the base form זֶה (zeh, masculine singular).

Historical & Contextual Notes

זוֹ appears primarily as a feminine singular demonstrative pronoun, especially in poetic, elevated, or archaic biblical style (e.g., Exod 15:13, Job 9:23, Ps 12:8). Unlike זֶה (zeh, masculine) or זֹאת (zot, standard feminine), זוֹ is stylistically marked, often conveying emphasis or stylistic variation in Hebrew poetry and archaic prose. Over time, זֹאת became the dominant prose feminine demonstrative. The use of זוֹ is much rarer in later texts, with its poetic nuance often obscured in translation. English versions typically render it simply as 'this' or 'that,' not reflecting its marked, occasionally emphatic usage. The KJV and later translations sometimes represent it with 'this,' though 'that' occurs as well. Important to note: in some passages, especially poetry, its referent may be ambiguous or general, contributing to elevated register or parallelism. The use of זוֹ does not carry the later or modern connotations associated with demonstrative pronouns in rabbinic or modern Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

for זֶה; this or that; that, this.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זה (z-h) — to indicate, to point out, to specify

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1975 הַלָּז that one there
H1977 הַלֵּזוּ this very one
H2063 זֹאת in this
H2088 זֶה in this one
H5137 נָזָה this one

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2097-01 ז֥וֹ zo HPdxfs This this one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2097-01 Hosea 7:16 ז֥וֹ zo HPdxfs This this one
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