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זָרַק

𐤆𐤓𐤒

zâraq

H2236 verb

SILEX Entry

Root זרק to throw, to scatter, to hurl

Definition

To throw or cast, especially with the sense of dispersing or scattering; commonly, to sprinkle (liquid, such as blood or water, or particles such as dust) by casting or throwing in a dispersed manner. In ritual contexts, chiefly refers to the act of sprinkling sacrificial blood or purifying water. Extended uses include scattering objects more generally (grain, ashes, etc.), or figuratively, to disperse people or things widely.

Semantic Range

to sprinkle (blood, water, ashes, dust), to scatter objects, to cast or hurl, to disperse (people or items), to strew

Root / Etymology

Root ז-ר-ק, meaning 'to throw, hurl, scatter.' The verb derives directly from the root and retains its core sense of forcible projection or dispersal, whether with liquids or solids.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Priestly writings, particularly in Leviticus and Numbers, זָרַק denotes the ritual act of sprinkling blood as part of sacrificial procedures, with strong cultic connotations. The act typically involves the priest forcefully casting blood towards the altar. The same root is used in more general or metaphorical senses—scattering dust on the earth, dispersing stones, or scattering a group of people, as in narrative or poetic texts. Other common Hebrew terms with similar but distinct nuances include נָפַץ (to scatter by smashing), פָּרַר (to break or scatter), and נָתַן (to give, used idiomatically for scattering in some cases). English translations often render זָרַק as 'sprinkle' in cultic contexts, but the underlying imagery is one of energy and dispersal, not gentle application; it may convey a more forceful action than the English 'sprinkle' suggests. Over time, the ritual usage narrowed in Second Temple and later Jewish tradition to become highly standardized. In non-ritual uses, the meaning encompasses broader ideas of throwing or dispersal without cultic overtones.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to sprinkle (fluid or solid particles); be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זרק (z-r-q) — to throw, to scatter, to hurl

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4219 מִזְרָק in sprinkling-basins of

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2236-07 וַ/יִּזְרֹ֥ק vayizeroq HC/Vqw3ms and sprinkled and he scattered 6
H2236-12 וְ/זָרְק֨וּ vezarequ HC/Vqq3cp and shall throw and they hurled 5
H2236-06 וַ/יִּזְרְק֥וּ vayizerequ HC/Vqw3mp and they sprinkled and they hurled 5
H2236-05 וַ/יִּזְרְקֵ֥/הוּ vayizereqehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and he sprinkled it and he hurled him 2
H2236-16 זֹרַ֤ק zoraq HVQp3ms been thrown he was hurled 2
H2236-13 יִזְרֹ֥ק yizeroq HVqi3ms he shall sprinkle he will hurl 2
H2236-10 וְ/זָרַקְתָּ֥ vezaraqeta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall sprinkle and you shall scatter 2
H2236-02 תִּזְרֹ֤ק tizeroq HVqi2ms you shall sprinkle you will scatter 2
H2236-14 זָרַ֖ק zaraq HVqp3ms he sprinkled he scattered 1
H2236-04 וּ/זְרֹ֖ק uzeroq HC/Vqv2ms and scatter and scatter! 1

Occurrences in Scripture

35 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2236-03 Exodus 9:8 וּ/זְרָק֥/וֹ uzeraqo HC/Vqp3ms/Sp3ms and let Moses throw it and he hurled him
H2236-07 Exodus 9:10 וַ/יִּזְרֹ֥ק vayizeroq HC/Vqw3ms and Moses threw and he scattered
H2236-14 Exodus 24:6 זָרַ֖ק zaraq HVqp3ms he sprinkled he scattered
H2236-07 Exodus 24:8 וַ/יִּזְרֹ֖ק vayizeroq HC/Vqw3ms and sprinkled and he scattered
H2236-10 Exodus 29:16 וְ/זָרַקְתָּ֥ vezaraqeta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall sprinkle and you shall scatter
H2236-10 Exodus 29:20 וְ/זָרַקְתָּ֧ vezaraqeta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall sprinkle and you shall scatter
H2236-12 Leviticus 1:5 וְ/זָרְק֨וּ vezarequ HC/Vqq3cp and they shall splash and they hurled
H2236-12 Leviticus 1:11 וְ/זָרְק֡וּ vezarequ HC/Vqq3cp and they shall throw and they hurled
H2236-12 Leviticus 3:2 וְ/זָרְק֡וּ vezarequ HC/Vqq3cp and they shall sprinkle and they hurled
H2236-12 Leviticus 3:8 וְ֠/זָרְקוּ vezarequ HC/Vqq3cp and shall throw and they hurled
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