What does זָלַל (zālal) mean in the Bible?
זָלַל (zālal): Physical instability (shaking) maps to moral instability (worthlessness, profligacy, dissolution)
Hebrew · H2151
זָלַל
To shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake ; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal
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זָלַלH2151
Pronunciationzālal
What does זָלַל (zālal) mean in the Bible?
זָלַל (zālal): Physical instability (shaking) maps to moral instability (worthlessness, profligacy, dissolution)
Full entry for זָלַל (H2151) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2151?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and the glutton (1), despised (1), He is a glutton (1), impulsive you are (1), instead of worthless (1).
Where does זָלַל (zālal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 21:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (3), Isaiah (2), Jeremiah (2), Deuteronomy (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand the glutton1×Proverbs 23:21
despised1×Lamentations 1:11
He is a glutton1×Deuteronomy 21:20
impulsive you are1×Jeremiah 2:36
instead of worthless1×Jeremiah 15:19
of gluttons1×Proverbs 28:7
or gorge1×Proverbs 23:20
trembled1×Isaiah 64:3
would quake1×Isaiah 64:1
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 21:20זוֹלֵ֖לtoHe is a gluttonVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularProverbs 23:20בְּזֹלֲלֵ֖יtoor gorgePreposition-b | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructProverbs 23:21וְ֭זוֹלֵלtoand the gluttonConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularProverbs 28:7זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗יםtoof gluttonsVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralIsaiah 64:1נָזֹֽלּוּ׃towould quakeVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralIsaiah 64:3נָזֹֽלּוּ׃totrembledVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralJeremiah 2:36תֵּזְלִ֥יtoimpulsive you areVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singularJeremiah 15:19מִזּוֹלֵ֖לtoinstead of worthlessPreposition-m | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularLamentations 1:11זוֹלֵלָֽה׃סtodespisedVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 21:20
Aligned rows9
Books represented5
Deuteronomy1Proverbs3Isaiah2Jeremiah2Lamentations1
Source forms
נָזֹֽלּוּ׃2xnā·zōl·lūIsaiah 64:1, Isaiah 64:3
בְּזֹלֲלֵ֖י1xbə·zō·lă·lêProverbs 23:20
וְ֭זוֹלֵל1xwə·zō·w·lêlProverbs 23:21
זוֹלֵ֖ל1xzō·w·lêlDeuteronomy 21:20
זוֹלֵלָֽה׃ס1xzō·w·lê·lāhLamentations 1:11
זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים1xzō·wl·lîmProverbs 28:7
מִזּוֹלֵ֖ל1xmiz·zō·w·lêlJeremiah 15:19
תֵּזְלִ֥י1xtê·zə·lîJeremiah 2:36
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural2xIsaiah 64:1, Isaiah 64:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xProverbs 23:21
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct1xProverbs 23:20
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xJeremiah 15:19
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular1xJeremiah 2:36
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular1xLamentations 1:11
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1xProverbs 28:7
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 21:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical instability (shaking) maps to moral instability (worthlessness, profligacy, dissolution)
Strong'sH2151
Lexical occurrences8 versesWord forms2 forms5 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 23:19-21Source Gloss
to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake ; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical instability (shaking) maps to moral instability (worthlessness, profligacy, dissolution)
to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal BDB: shake Usage: blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms5
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
Participle activeDeut 21:20 · Lam 1:11 · Prov 28:73×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
PerfectIsa 63:19 · Isa 64:22×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
One who is morally loose and wasteful, indulging excessively in food and drink
A person of worthless character who associates with gluttons and brings shame to parents
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 8 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
זָלַל is built from this root:
זוּלH2107
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.