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זָקַק

𐤆𐤒𐤒

zâqaq

H2212 verb

SILEX Entry

Root זקק to purify, to refine, to strain, to filter

Definition

To purify or refine, often through the process of straining, filtering, or subjecting to fire; the word describes making something free from impurities, whether in a literal, material sense (such as refining metals) or, in some contexts, in a figurative or moral sense (such as purifying people or actions).

Semantic Range

to refine metal, to purify (literal), to clarify (liquids), to test or purify (people, figurative), to make fine (as in fine silver), to purge impurities

Root / Etymology

From the root ז-ק-ק, which conveys the core idea of purification or refinement, especially through a process that removes undesirable elements. The verb זָקַק originally pertains to the smelting or refining of metals to separate pure material from dross; its usage later extends to abstract senses of purification.

Historical & Contextual Notes

זָקַק occurs primarily in contexts relating to refining precious metals, especially silver, as seen in poetic and prophetic literature (e.g., Psalms, Isaiah, Malachi). The refinement process suggested is not only mechanical (e.g., straining or filtering) but frequently metallurgical, using fire to separate impurities. In later periods, particularly the prophetic and post-exilic, the term is employed metaphorically for the purification of people, often as an image of moral or spiritual refinement. English translations commonly render it as 'refine,' 'purify,' or 'test,' though 'purge' or 'clarify' sometimes occurs in older translations. Related Hebrew terms include טהר (ṭāhar, 'make clean') and ברר (bārar, 'choose, purify'), though זָקַק often stresses the process of refinement via ordeal or trial. Later rabbinic Hebrew preserves this metaphorical sense, and it also appears in post-biblical Jewish literature, but its biblical usage is strongly rooted in the imagery of smelting and purification by fire.

Translation Consistency

primary "refine" 6 occurrences

Refine best captures the typical Heb. זָקַק sense across literal and figurative uses — refining metals, clarifying liquids, and purifying people or actions. It is the most natural, widely used English equivalent in the P2 renderings and fits both material and moral contexts while remaining concise and consistent.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"distill" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to strain, (figuratively) extract, clarify; fine, pour down, purge, purify, refine.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זקק (z-q-q) — to purify, to refine, to strain, to filter

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2212-01 מְ֝זֻקָּ֗ק mezuqaq HVPsmsa refined refined one refined 3
H2212-04 יָזֹֽקּוּ yazoqu HVqi3mp they distill they refine they distill 2
H2212-02 מְזֻקָּקִֽים mezuqaqim HVPsmpa well refined refined ones well refined 1
H2212-03 וְ/זִקַּ֣ק veziqaq HC/Vpq3ms and-he-will-refine and he refined and he will refine 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2212-02 Isaiah 25:6 מְזֻקָּקִֽים mezuqaqim HVPsmpa well refined refined ones well refined
H2212-03 Malachi 3:3 וְ/זִקַּ֣ק veziqaq HC/Vpq3ms and-he-will-refine and he refined and he will refine
H2212-01 Psalms 12:7 מְ֝זֻקָּ֗ק mezuqaq HVPsmsa purified refined one refined one
H2212-04 Job 28:1 יָזֹֽקּוּ yazoqu HVqi3mp where they refine they refine they will refine
H2212-04 Job 36:27 יָזֹ֖קּוּ yazoqu HVqi3mp they distill they refine they distill
H2212-01 1 Chronicles 28:18 מְזֻקָּ֖ק mezuqaq HVPsmsa refined refined one refined
H2212-01 1 Chronicles 29:4 מְזֻקָּ֔ק mezuqaq HVPsmsa refined refined one refined
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