What does זַעַם (za’am) mean in the Bible?
זַעַם (za’am): God's wrathful indignation—visceral fury at sin, moving from physical frothing to divine displeasure
Hebrew · H2195
זַעַם
Strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin)
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זַעַםH2195
Pronunciationza’am
What does זַעַם (za’am) mean in the Bible?
זַעַם (za’am): God's wrathful indignation—visceral fury at sin, moving from physical frothing to divine displeasure
Full entry for זַעַם (H2195) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2195?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include His indignation (2), My indignation (2), of wrath (2), for the cursing (1), fury (1).
Where does זַעַם (za’am) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Psalms 38:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (5), Psalms (4), Ezekiel (3), Jeremiah (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItHis indignation2×Jeremiah 10:10, Nahum 1:6
My indignation2×Ezekiel 22:31, Zephaniah 3:8
of wrath2×Jeremiah 50:25, Daniel 8:19
for the cursing1×Hosea 7:16
fury1×Isaiah 30:27
In His fierce anger1×Lamentations 2:6
indignation1×Psalms 78:49
is My wrath1×Isaiah 10:5
My anger1×Ezekiel 21:31
My fury [against you]1×Isaiah 10:25
of His wrath1×Isaiah 13:5
of indignation1×Ezekiel 22:24
the time of wrath1×Daniel 11:36
the wrath1×Isaiah 26:20
with fury1×Habakkuk 3:12
with indignation1×Jeremiah 15:17
Your anger1×Psalms 38:3
Your indignation1×Psalms 102:10
Your wrath1×Psalms 69:24
Show sample aligned rows
Psalms 38:3זַעְמֶ֑ךָtoYour angerNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularPsalms 69:24זַעְמֶ֑ךָtoYour wrathNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularPsalms 78:49וָזַ֣עַםtoindignationConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularPsalms 102:10זַֽעַמְךָ֥toYour indignationNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularIsaiah 10:5זַעְמִֽי׃tois My wrathNoun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularIsaiah 10:25זַ֔עַםtoMy fury [against you]Noun - masculine singularIsaiah 13:5זַעְמ֔וֹtoof His wrathNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularIsaiah 26:20זָֽעַם׃tothe wrathNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 30:27זַ֔עַםtofuryNoun - masculine singularJeremiah 10:10זַעְמֽוֹ׃סtoHis indignationNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowPsalms 38:3
Aligned rows22
Books represented10
Psalms4Isaiah5Jeremiah3Lamentations1Ezekiel3Daniel2Hosea1Nahum1Habakkuk1Zephaniah1
Source forms
זַ֔עַם3xza·‘amIsaiah 10:25, Isaiah 30:27, Daniel 11:36
זָֽעַם׃2xzā·‘amIsaiah 26:20, Ezekiel 22:24
זַעְמִ֔י2xza‘·mîEzekiel 21:31, Ezekiel 22:31
זַעְמֶ֑ךָ2xza‘·me·ḵāPsalms 38:3, Psalms 69:24
בְּזַ֖עַם1xbə·za·‘amHabakkuk 3:12
בְּזַֽעַם־1xbə·za·‘am-Lamentations 2:6
הַזָּ֑עַם1xhaz·zā·‘amDaniel 8:19
וָזַ֣עַם1xwā·za·‘amPsalms 78:49
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular6xIsaiah 10:25, Isaiah 26:20, Isaiah 30:27, Jeremiah 15:17
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular4xIsaiah 10:5, Ezekiel 21:31, Ezekiel 22:31, Zephaniah 3:8
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular4xIsaiah 13:5, Jeremiah 10:10, Jeremiah 50:25, Nahum 1:6
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular3xPsalms 38:3, Psalms 69:24, Psalms 102:10
Article | Noun - masculine singular1xDaniel 8:19
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular1xPsalms 78:49
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular1xHabakkuk 3:12
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct1xLamentations 2:6
Evidence Summary
HolinessJustice
Hebrew word. God's wrathful indignation—visceral fury at sin, moving from physical frothing to divine displeasure
Source Gloss
strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
God's wrathful indignation—visceral fury at sin, moving from physical frothing to divine displeasure
strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin) BDB: indignation Usage: angry, indignation, rage.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Anger or wrath, often in judicial context.
Righteous anger or wrath.
Righteous anger or displeasure.
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 22 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
זַעַם is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
It affirms that discipline is grounded in God’s moral holiness.Isaiah 10:24-34
Indignation is temporary toward Zion but redirected against the oppressor.Isaiah 26:19-21
God’s indignation is directed against persistent iniquity.Micah 7:7-10
Canonical Themes
HolinessJustice
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.