Hebrew · H2232, G4687 · unreviewed

זָרַע

To sow ; figuratively, to disseminate , plant , fructify · to sow

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

זָרַע H2232 to sow ; figuratively, to disseminate , plant , fructify

Pronunciation zara

Sowing extends from literal agriculture to covenant multiplication—God's seed-promise ensures generational fruitfulness and inheritance.

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σπείρω G4687 to sow

Pronunciation speírō

Literal sowing of seeds; metaphorically, initiating actions whose consequences will inevitably be reaped.

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What does זָרַע (zara) mean in the Bible?

זָרַע · σπείρω is a Hebrew word meaning "to plant or scatter seed".

Full entry for זָרַע (H2232, G4687) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to plant or scatter seed

Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 31×

Imperfect Deut 11:10 · Deut 22:9 · Exod 23:10 · Exod 23:16 · Isa 30:23 · Lev 19:19 · Lev 25:3 · Lev 25:4 · Mic 6:15 · Jer 35:7 · Lev 25:11 · Eccl 11:4 · Hos 8:7 · Lev 25:20 15×

Participle active Gen 1:29 · Isa 32:20 · Jer 50:16 · Prov 22:8 5×

Sequential imperfect 2Kgs 19:29 · Hos 10:12 · Isa 37:30 · Eccl 11:6 4×

Perfect Hag 1:6 · Jer 12:13 · Judg 6:3 3×

Participle passive Jer 2:2 · Ps 97:11 2×

Jussive Jer 4:3 1×

Cohortative Job 31:8 1×

Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 4×

Imperfect Deut 21:4 · Lev 11:37 · Nah 1:14 · Deut 29:22 4×

Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 3×

Participle active Gen 1:11 · Gen 1:12 2×

Imperfect Lev 12:2 1×

Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 1×

Perfect Isa 40:24 1×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 39 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Imperfect 21 Participle 7 Imperative 4 Perfect 4 Participle passive 2 Cohortative 1

Stem

Qal 31 Niphal 4 Hiphil 3 Pual 1

Mood

Indicative/jussive 19 Imperative 4 Indicative 4 Jussive 1 Indicative/cohortative 1

OT Occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 15 — Christ Is Risen, the Dead Will Be Raised, and Death Will Be Destroyed Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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