מִזְרָע
𐤌𐤆𐤓𐤏
mizrâʻ
H4218 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Cultivated field, land sown with seed, or the crops produced as a result of sowing. The term refers primarily to an area of ground prepared for and dedicated to planting, or the product of that planting, depending on contextual use. In some cases, it may refer collectively to sown produce, especially grains or cereals.
Semantic Range
cultivated field, sown land, area of ground planted with seed, crops produced from sowing, sown produce
Root / Etymology
The word derives from the root זרע (z-r-ʿ), meaning 'to sow, scatter seed.' מִזְרָע is a noun likely formed with the preformative מִ- (mi-) indicating 'place of' or 'that which pertains to,' plus the root. Thus, the term denotes a place or area associated with sowing, i.e., a sown field, or what is produced from sowing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, מִזְרָע appears in contexts concerning agriculture, crop cultivation, and economic life in ancient Israel and surrounding regions. It is attested in administrative lists, descriptions of agricultural practices, and legal passages regulating land and produce (see Leviticus 25:3-4; Genesis 47:24). The term usually emphasizes the process and result of sowing, distinguishing such land from fallow or uncultivated plots. While related to זֶרַע (zeraʿ, 'seed' or 'offspring'), מִזְרָע is specifically focused on cultivated ground or its yield. Standard English translations as 'sown field' or 'thing sown' generally represent the core meaning, but sometimes they may obscure the distinction from other types of fields, such as grazing land or orchards (cf. שָׂדֶה sadé, 'field' in a broader sense). The term's use does not advance into later rabbinic Hebrew, being replaced by other terminology for arable land or crops. In post-exilic literature, other agricultural terms become more frequent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from זָרַע; a planted field; thing sown.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זרע (z-r-ʿ) — to sow, scatter seed
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1872 | דְּרַע | and his arms |
| H2220 | זְרוֹעַ | in an outstretched arm |
| H2221 | זֵרוּעַ | sown produce |
| H2232 | זָרַע | let me sow seed |
| H2233 | זֶרַע | in their seed |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4218-01 |
מִזְרַ֣ע | mizera | HNcmsc |
sown | from seed of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4218-01 |
Isaiah 19:7 | מִזְרַ֣ע | mizera | HNcmsc |
sown | from seed of |