H2204 H2204
to be old, grow old — a stative verb describing the condition or process of aging in patriarchs, kings, and elders
Zaqen as a verb means 'to be old' or 'to grow old,' a stative root whose 27 occurrences mark pivotal transitions in Israel's narrative. It frequently introduces succession crises: Abraham 'was old, advanced in days' when he sent his servant for Isaac's wife (Gen 24:1), Joshua 'was old and advanced in years' when much land remained unconquered (Josh 13:1; 23:1-2), and David 'was old' when Adonijah seized the moment to claim the throne (1 Kgs 1:1, 15). Samuel's aging triggered Israel's demand for a king (1 Sam 8:1, 5). The verb also appears in poignant domestic moments: Sarah laughed because Abraham 'was old' (Gen 18:12-13), and Barzillai declined David's invitation because 'I am old' (2 Sam 19:32). Spanish 'envejecer,' French 'vieillir,' German 'alt werden' preserve the stative-inchoative range.
Senses
1. to be old, grow old — To be in a state of old age or to undergo the process of growing old. Characteristically introduces narrative turning points where a leader's aging forces the question of succession: Abraham seeking a wife for Isaac (Gen 24:1), Joshua's incomplete conquest (Josh 13:1; 23:1-2), Samuel's failing leadership prompting the monarchy (1 Sam 8:1, 5), and David's vulnerability to Adonijah's coup (1 Kgs 1:1). Also used in personal contexts — Sarah's laughter (Gen 18:12-13), Barzillai's decline (2 Sam 19:32), and Eli's failing eyesight (1 Sam 4:18). 27×
AR["شاخَ", "شَاخَ", "شَيْخٌ", "شِخْتَ", "شِخْتُ"]·ben["আমি-বৃদ্ধা-হয়েছি", "বৃদ্ধ", "বৃদ্ধ-হয়েছ", "বৃদ্ধ-হয়েছি", "বৃদ্ধ-হলেন"]·DE["[זקן]", "[זקנתי]", "alt", "bin-alt", "bin-alt-geworden", "haben-gewachsen-alt", "ich-am-alt", "ich-haben-grown-alt", "ist-alt", "sind-alt", "war-alt"]·EN["I-am-old", "I-am-too-old", "I-have-grown-old", "am-old", "are-old", "have-grown-old", "is-old", "old", "was-old"]·FR["[זקן]", "ancien", "avoir-crû-vieux", "est-vieux", "je-am-vieux", "je-suis-aussi-vieux", "sont-vieux", "suis-ancien", "suis-vieux", "vieux", "était-ancien", "être-vieux"]·heb["זקן", "זקנת", "זקנתי"]·HI["बुध", "बुधि-हो-गयि", "बूढ़ा", "बूढ़ा-था", "बूढ़ा-हूँ-मैं", "बूढ़ा-है", "बूढ़ा-हो-गया", "बूढ़ा-हो-गया-हूँ", "बूढ़ी-हूँ"]·ID["aku-terlalu-tua", "menjadi-tua", "sangat-tua", "sudah-tua", "tua"]·IT["[זקן]", "[זקנתי]", "am-vecchio", "avere-cresciuto-vecchio", "fu-vecchio", "io-am-anche-vecchio", "io-am-vecchio", "sono-vecchio", "vecchio", "è-vecchio"]·jav["kula-sampun-sepuh", "sampun-sepuh", "sepuh", "sepuh-kula"]·KO["내가-늙었다", "늘어다", "늘어서", "늘었다", "늙어서", "늙었다", "늙었도다", "늙은"]·PT["envelheceste", "envelheceu", "envelheci", "velho"]·RU["состарилась", "состарилась-я", "состарился", "стар", "старый"]·ES["anciano", "envejecido-he", "envejecí", "era-viejo", "has-envejecido", "he-envejecido", "viejo"]·SW["alikuwa-mzee", "mzee", "ni-mzee", "nimezeeka", "umekuwa-mzee", "umezeeka"]·TR["yasli", "yaşlandım", "yaşlandın", "yaşlı"]·urd["بوڑھا", "بوڑھا-تھا", "بوڑھا-ہو-گیا", "بوڑھا-ہو-گیا-ہے", "بوڑھا-ہوا", "بوڑھا-ہوں", "بوڑھا-ہے", "بوڑھی-ہو-گئی-ہوں", "بوڑھی-ہوں"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† זָקֵן vb. be or become old (cf., according to Thes, Arabic ذَقُونٌa she-camal that lets her lower lip hang down, 3, v. Lane 968; ذِقْنٌ decrepit man)— Qal Pf. 3 ms. זָקֵן Gn 18:12 + 14 times (often hard to disting. from pred. adj. זָקֵן q.v.); 3 fs. זָֽקְנָה Pr 23:22; 2 ms. זָקַנְתָּ 1 S 8:5; זָקַ֫נְתָּה Jos 13:1; 1 s. זָקַנְתִּי Jos 23:2 + 3 times; זָקַ֑נְתִּי Gn 18:13; 27:2; Impf. וַיִּזְקַן…