זָחַל
𐤆𐤇𐤋
zâchal
H2119 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To crawl or glide along close to the ground, as a reptile or worm; by extension, to exhibit trembling or shivering of fear. The verb primarily refers to the slow, creeping movement typical of certain small animals, and metaphorically describes the trembling or recoiling in fear that can resemble such a creature's motions.
Semantic Range
to crawl or creep along the ground, to move like a serpent or worm, to tremble or quake (from fear), to display abject humility or submission
Root / Etymology
Root: זחל (z-ḥ-l); the root appears to indicate the physical action of sliding or crawling, particularly on one's belly, as seen in serpentine or worm-like movement. The verbal noun preserves this imagery. Semitically related roots in cognate languages (e.g., Arabic زحل 'to slide, creep') support the basic meaning of crawling or gliding.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb זָחַל is used sparingly in the Hebrew Bible and almost exclusively to describe the movement of animals that move close to the ground, such as serpents or worms (e.g., Micah 7:17). In poetic usage, it can reflect the humility or fear that drives someone to adopt a low or trembling posture, blending literal and figurative senses. In later periods, the root may extend in post-biblical Hebrew to cover other forms of creeping or abject movement, but in the biblical corpus the connection to actual animal movement predominates. English translations may render the term simply as 'crawl' or 'creep,' but the verb can also mark a posture of quaking fear or submissiveness, especially in contexts describing nations or individuals brought low. Unlike רמש (ramas), which also denotes creeping things more generally, זָחַל carries a sense of gliding or slipping, often emphasizing the humility or fear invoked by such motion. There is also a semantic overlap with חפשׁ (ḥashash), 'to tremble,' in poetic and prophetic texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to crawl; by implication, to fear; be afraid, serpent, worm.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זחל (z-ḥ-l) — to crawl, creep, glide, tremble
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2120 | זֹחֶלֶת | the Crawling-One |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2119-03 |
זֹחֲלֵ֥י | zochaley | HVqrmpc |
of crawling | crawling ones of | 1 |
H2119-02 |
זָחַ֥לְתִּי | zachaleti | HVqp1cs |
I shrank back | I crawled | 1 |
H2119-01 |
כְּ/זֹחֲלֵ֣י | kezochaley | HR/Vqrmpc |
like crawling things | like crawling ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2119-03 |
Deuteronomy 32:24 | זֹחֲלֵ֥י | zochaley | HVqrmpc |
of crawling | crawling ones of |
H2119-01 |
Micah 7:17 | כְּ/זֹחֲלֵ֣י | kezochaley | HR/Vqrmpc |
like crawling things | like crawling ones |
H2119-02 |
Job 32:6 | זָחַ֥לְתִּי | zachaleti | HVqp1cs |
I shrank back | I crawled |