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זָקָן

𐤆𐤒𐤍

zâqân

H2206 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זקן to be old, to grow old, to become aged

Definition

Beard; the hair that grows on the chin and cheeks of a man, typically appearing with age and often associated with maturity, dignity, and social status in ancient Israelite culture. The term designates the beard itself rather than age per se, but is related to the visible sign of maturity, authority, or respect within the community. In some contexts, references to 'beard' can include implications regarding social roles, ritual practices, or mourning customs.

Semantic Range

beard (as facial hair), beard as symbol of maturity, beard in ritual or mourning contexts, object of humiliation or sign of mourning, marker of male adulthood

Root / Etymology

From the root זקן (z-q-n), which fundamentally means 'to be old, to grow old, to become aged.' The noun זָקָן is derived as a concrete nominal form, referring to the physical manifestation of maturity (i.e., beard), distinguishing it from the more abstract sense of age. Thus, while the root meaning relates to age or seniority, the word זָקָן specifically denotes the beard, the visible mark of reaching a certain maturity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite society, the beard held significant cultural and social meaning, often being associated with honor, virility, and status. The removal, plucking, or disfiguring of the beard (as in 2 Samuel 10:4; Isaiah 7:20) was considered a profound humiliation or sign of mourning (cf. Jeremiah 41:5). During mourning or as acts of submission or penitence, the beard might be altered or cut, in contrast to prescribed norms. In priestly law (Leviticus 19:27; 21:5), specific prohibitions are given regarding cutting or shaping the beard, reflecting ritual boundaries. The word should be distinguished from זָקֵן (zaqēn), meaning 'elder' or 'aged person,' though both derive from the same root. English translations generally render זָקָן as 'beard,' which captures the immediate physical meaning but may understate its cultural significance in biblical context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָקֵן; the beard (as indicating age); beard.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זקן (z-q-n) — to be old, to grow old, to become aged

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2204 זָקֵן and he grew old
H2205 זָקֵן in the elder
H2207 זֹקֶן from old age
H2208 זָקֻן to his old-age years
H2209 זִקְנָה old age

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2206-03 הַ/זָּקָ֖ן hazaqan HTd/Ncbsa the beard the beard the beard 3
H2206-06 זָקָ֖ן zaqan HNcbsa beard beard beard 3
H2206-09 זְקָנֶֽ/ךָ zeqanekha HNcbsc/Sp2ms of your beard your beard your beard 2
H2206-11 זְקָנ/וֹ֙ zeqano HNcbsc/Sp3ms his beard his beard his beard 2
H2206-08 זְקָנָ֖/ם zeqanam HNcbsc/Sp3mp their-beard their beard their beard 2
H2206-10 זְקַנְ/כֶ֖ם zeqanekhem HNcbsc/Sp2mp your beard your beards your beard 2
H2206-07 זְקַֽן zeqan HNcbsc beard beard of beard of 1
H2206-05 בְ/זָקָֽן vezaqan HR/Ncbsa on-(the-)beard in a beard on the beard 1
H2206-01 בִּ/זְקַ֥ן bizeqan HR/Ncbsc by the beard in the beard of by the beard 1
H2206-04 וּ/זְקָנִ֔/י uzeqani HC/Ncbsc/Sp1cs and of my beard and my beard and my beard 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2206-05 Leviticus 13:29 בְ/זָקָֽן vezaqan HR/Ncbsa on-(the-)beard in a beard on the beard
H2206-03 Leviticus 13:30 הַ/זָּקָ֖ן hazaqan HTd/Ncbsa the beard the beard the beard
H2206-11 Leviticus 14:9 זְקָנ/וֹ֙ zeqano HNcbsc/Sp3ms his beard his beard his beard
H2206-09 Leviticus 19:27 זְקָנֶֽ/ךָ zeqanekha HNcbsc/Sp2ms of your beard your beard your beard
H2206-08 Leviticus 21:5 זְקָנָ֖/ם zeqanam HNcbsc/Sp3mp of their beard their beard their beard
H2206-02 1 Samuel 17:35 בִּ/זְקָנ֔/וֹ bizeqano HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms by his beard in his beard by his beard
H2206-11 1 Samuel 21:14 זְקָנֽ/וֹ zeqano HNcbsc/Sp3ms his beard his beard his beard
H2206-08 2 Samuel 10:4 זְקָנָ֔/ם zeqanam HNcbsc/Sp3mp their-beard their beard their beard
H2206-10 2 Samuel 10:5 זְקַנְ/כֶ֖ם zeqanekhem HNcbsc/Sp2mp your beards your beards your beards
H2206-01 2 Samuel 20:9 בִּ/זְקַ֥ן bizeqan HR/Ncbsc by the beard in the beard of by the beard
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