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זָכוּר

𐤆𐤊𐤅𐤓

zâkûwr

H2138 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זכר to remember, to call to mind

Definition

Male; an individual or animal of the male sex. The term denotes sex and gender distinction in reference to humans, animals, and sometimes plants. It is primarily used in contexts where a distinction from 'female' (נְקֵבָה, neqēvāh) is required, often in genealogical lists, legal requirements (such as sacrificial prescriptions), and census enumerations. In later usage, also specifically designates male offspring or heirs.

Semantic Range

male (human), male (animal), male child, male offspring, gender distinction, genealogical identification

Root / Etymology

From the root זכר (z-k-r), meaning 'to remember' or 'to have in mind.' The passive participle form זָכוּר normally means 'remembered' or 'one who is remembered,' but in biblical Hebrew, זָכוּר also functions as a morphological variant of זָכָר (male), perhaps by orthographic confusion or phonetic resemblance. Thus, while the root means 'to remember,' in this noun form it denotes 'male' by association or analogy with זָכָר.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, זָכוּר is an uncommon but recognized alternative spelling for זָכָר ('male'). The standard form for 'male' is זָכָר, and most texts use that term; occurrences of זָכוּר as 'male' are comparatively rare and may reflect scribal variants, dialectal influences, or orthographic conventions in certain textual traditions. The use of a participial form for a gender noun is unusual and may signal an archaism or regionalism. The term is used for distinguishing male from female in sacrificial regulations (e.g., Leviticus, Numbers), census lists, and genealogies. While later Bible translations (such as the KJV) sometimes render it as 'man child' or 'male child,' the underlying term does not necessarily imply youth, but rather the male sex. In later Hebrew and Jewish tradition, זָכוּר is not used as the standard word for 'male.' The connotation does not carry religious or legal status beyond sex/gender identification.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

properly, passive participle of זָכַר, but used for זָכָר; a male (of man or animals); males, men-children.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זכר (z-k-r) — to remember, to call to mind

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1798 דְּכַר male rams
H2139 זַכּוּר and Remembered-one
H2142 זָכַר I will cause to be remembered
H2143 זֵכֶר for remembrance of
H2144 זֶכֶר and Zeker

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2138-02 זְכ֣וּרְ/ךָ֔ zekhurekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your males your male 3
H2138-01 זְכוּרָ֖/הּ zekhurah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its males her male 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2138-02 Exodus 23:17 זְכ֣וּרְ/ךָ֔ zekhurekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your males your male
H2138-02 Exodus 34:23 זְכ֣וּרְ/ךָ֔ zekhurekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your males your male
H2138-02 Deuteronomy 16:16 זְכוּרְ/ךָ֜ zekhurekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your males your male
H2138-01 Deuteronomy 20:13 זְכוּרָ֖/הּ zekhurah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its males her male
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