← H2097 H2099 →

זוּ

𐤆𐤅

zûw

H2098 particle

SILEX Entry

Root זהה to be bright, to be prominent

Definition

A demonstrative pronoun or adjective indicating identity or specification, most commonly meaning 'this' or 'that' as a reference to a particular person, place, thing, or concept previously mentioned or about to be defined. Functions to point out or single out a specific entity in a relative or emphatic sense.

Semantic Range

this, that, which, who, whom, wherein (as relative pronoun); emphatic or particular designation in poetry or formal discourse

Root / Etymology

Root: זהה (z-h-h), meaning 'to be bright' or 'to be prominent.' The word זוּ appears to be a variant form of the more common demonstrative pronoun זֶה (zeh, 'this, that'). Its precise morphological derivation is uncertain, but it is likely an archaic or poetic form preserved from an early Semitic stage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

זוּ (zûw) is a rare and somewhat archaic or poetic variant of the standard demonstrative pronoun זֶה (zeh, 'this, that'), more frequently encountered in poetry, wisdom literature, or in formalized legal or cultic language. It generally functions as a demonstrative specifying a particular subject or object, often as a relative pronoun ('which, who, that') introducing a relative clause when required by formal parallelism or stylistic variation. In some cases, especially in poetic or proverbial language, it may be used to intensify specification or to contribute to chiastic or parallel literary structures. English translations often do not distinguish it from זֶה, rendering both as 'this' or 'that.' This selection often reflects translation tradition rather than any meaningful difference in Hebrew usage. The form does not occur with significant frequency in narrative prose. Later Aramaic and post-biblical Hebrew forms share similar demonstrative structures, but with different frequencies and phonological shifts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

for זֶה; this or that; that, this, [idiom] wherein, which, whom.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

זהה (z-h-h) — brightness, prominence, distinctness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1454 גֵּה this
H1976 הַלָּזֶה this very one
H2090 זֹה like this

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2098-01 ז֣וּ zu HTr this that which 15

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2098-01 Exodus 15:13 ז֣וּ zu HTr whom that which
H2098-01 Exodus 15:16 ז֥וּ zu HTr whom that which
H2098-01 Isaiah 42:24 ז֚וּ zu HTr this that which
H2098-01 Isaiah 43:21 זוּ֙ zu HTr this that which
H2098-01 Habakkuk 1:11 ז֥וּ zu HTr this that which
H2098-01 Psalms 9:16 ז֥וּ zu HTr which that which
H2098-01 Psalms 10:2 ז֣וּ zu HTr this that which
H2098-01 Psalms 12:8 ז֣וּ zu HTr this that which
H2098-01 Psalms 17:9 ז֣וּ zu HTr that that which
H2098-01 Psalms 31:5 ז֭וּ zu HTr that that which
← H2097 Hebrew Lexicon H2099 →