What does זָרָה (zārāh) mean in the Bible?
זָרָה (zārāh): Motion of dispersal through force or wind; literal winnowing extends to theological scattering of covenant people.
Hebrew · H2219
זָרָה
To toss about; by implication, to diffuse , winnow
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זָרָהH2219
Pronunciationzārāh
What does זָרָה (zārāh) mean in the Bible?
זָרָה (zārāh): Motion of dispersal through force or wind; literal winnowing extends to theological scattering of covenant people.
Full entry for זָרָה (H2219) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2219?
The BSB source-word alignment has 39 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and scatter (4), and scatter them (3), I will scatter (3), and disperse (1), and He will scatter them (1).
Where does זָרָה (zārāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 32:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (13), Jeremiah (6), Proverbs (4), Isaiah (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 Itand scatter4×Ezekiel 5:10, Ezekiel 6:5, Ezekiel 12:15, Ezekiel 30:26
and scatter them3×Psalms 106:27, Ezekiel 29:12, Ezekiel 30:23
I will scatter3×Leviticus 26:33, Jeremiah 49:32, Ezekiel 5:12
and disperse1×Ezekiel 20:23
and He will scatter them1×1 Kings 14:15
And I will scatter1×Ezekiel 12:14
and I will scatter them1×Jeremiah 49:36
and I will spread1×Malachi 2:3
and scatter you1×Ezekiel 22:15
and scattered [the powder]1×Exodus 32:20
and they were scattered1×Ezekiel 36:19
and you are to scatter1×Ezekiel 5:2
have scattered1×Zechariah 1:19
I will scatter them1×Jeremiah 15:7
is winnowing1×Ruth 3:2
rains down1×Job 18:15
scattered1×Zechariah 1:21
separates out1×Proverbs 20:26
sifts out1×Proverbs 20:8
spread1×Proverbs 15:7
The One who scattered1×Jeremiah 31:10
to scatter1×Numbers 16:37
to scatter it1×Zechariah 1:21
to spread1×Proverbs 1:17
to winnow1×Jeremiah 4:11
to winnow her1×Jeremiah 51:2
when you are scattered1×Ezekiel 6:8
winnowed1×Isaiah 30:24
You have scattered us1×Psalms 44:11
You search out1×Psalms 139:3
You will throw them away1×Isaiah 30:22
You will winnow them1×Isaiah 41:16
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 32:20וַיִּ֙זֶר֙toand scattered [the powder]Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 26:33אֱזָרֶ֣הtoI will scatterVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularNumbers 16:37זְרֵה־toto scatterVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularRuth 3:2זֹרֶ֛הtois winnowingVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1 Kings 14:15וְזֵרָ֖םtoand He will scatter themConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralJob 18:15יְזֹרֶ֖הtorains downVerb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 44:11זֵרִיתָֽנוּ׃toYou have scattered usVerb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common pluralPsalms 106:27וּ֝לְזָרוֹתָ֗םtoand scatter themConjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralPsalms 139:3זֵרִ֑יתָtoYou search outVerb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularProverbs 1:17מְזֹרָ֣הtoto spreadVerb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 32:20
Aligned rows39
Books represented13
Exodus1Leviticus1Numbers1Ruth11 Kings1Job1Psalms3Proverbs4Isaiah3Jeremiah6Ezekiel13Zechariah3Malachi1
Source forms
וְזֵרִיתִ֥י3xwə·zê·rî·ṯîEzekiel 5:10, Ezekiel 12:15, Ezekiel 30:26
אֱזָרֶ֣ה2x’ĕ·zā·rehLeviticus 26:33, Ezekiel 12:14
תִּזְרֵם֙2xtiz·rêmIsaiah 30:22, Isaiah 41:16
אֱזָרֶ֔ה1x’ĕ·zā·rehEzekiel 5:12
בְּהִזָּרֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם1xbə·hiz·zā·rō·w·ṯê·ḵemEzekiel 6:8
וָאֶזְרֵ֥ם1xwā·’ez·rêmJeremiah 15:7
וְזֵר֔וּהָ1xwə·zê·rū·hāJeremiah 51:2
וְזֵרִיתִי֙1xwə·zê·rî·ṯîEzekiel 6:5
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular5xEzekiel 5:10, Ezekiel 6:5, Ezekiel 12:15, Ezekiel 30:26
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural4xJeremiah 49:32, Jeremiah 49:36, Ezekiel 29:12, Ezekiel 30:23
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular3xLeviticus 26:33, Ezekiel 5:12, Ezekiel 12:14
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular2xProverbs 20:8, Proverbs 20:26
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural2xZechariah 1:19, Zechariah 1:21
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural2xIsaiah 30:22, Isaiah 41:16
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xRuth 3:2, Isaiah 30:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xEzekiel 36:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Motion of dispersal through force or wind; literal winnowing extends to theological scattering of covenant people.
Strong'sH2219
Lexical occurrences39 versesWord forms3 forms16 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkJeremiah 15:5-9Source Gloss
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse , winnow
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Motion of dispersal through force or wind; literal winnowing extends to theological scattering of covenant people.
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow BDB: scatter Usage: cast away, compass, disperse, fan, scatter (away), spread, strew, winnow.
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 groups3Aligned forms16
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action10×
ImperfectEzek 5:12 · Ezek 12:14 · Lev 26:33 · Prov 15:74×
Participle activeJer 31:10 · Prov 20:8 · Prov 20:263×
PerfectZech 2:2 · Zech 2:4 · Ps 139:33×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
Participle activeIsa 30:24 · Ruth 3:22×
ImperfectEzek 5:21×
Sequential imperfectNum 17:21×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
ImperfectJob 18:151×
Participle passiveProv 1:171×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Dispersion of people as divine judgment, scattering inhabitants abroad
Winnowing or dispersing enemies before judgment, separating chaff from grain
Generous distribution of goods and wealth, spreading abundance to others
Spreading or diffusing knowledge and words, disseminating wisdom broadly
Winnowing or separating the wicked from the righteous through judgment
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 39 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
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.