H2220 H2220
Arm, the physical limb; figuratively: divine or human might, power, military forces; the shoulder or foreleg of a sacrificial animal.
The Hebrew noun זְרוֹעַ is one of Scripture's most theologically charged body-part terms. While it literally denotes the human arm from shoulder to hand, its overwhelmingly dominant biblical usage is metaphorical: the 'outstretched arm' (זְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה) of God delivering Israel from Egypt appears as a fixed formula across Deuteronomy (4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 26:8) and became a cornerstone of exodus theology. Arabic ذِرَاع, Aramaic דְּרָעָא, and Swahili mkono/mikono all render the literal limb, but when the referent shifts to divine power, translators reach for strength vocabulary — Hindi बाहुबल ('arm-strength'), Korean 능력 ('power'). A specialized third sense surfaces in sacrificial law: the 'shoulder' or foreleg portion given to the priest (Num 6:19; Deut 18:3), confirmed by Korean 어깨 ('shoulder') replacing 팔 ('arm').
Senses
1. [split] arm, physical limb — The literal arm or arms of a human being as a physical body part, and overwhelmingly its metaphorical extension: the mighty arm of God as agent of deliverance, judgment, and creation (85 occurrences). The formula בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה ('with a strong hand and an outstretched arm') is foundational exodus language (Deut 4:34; 5:15; 26:8). Arabic ذِرَاع, Swahili mkono, French bras, and German Arm all translate the physical limb consistently, while the theological metaphor of God's arm as instrument of power pervades psalms (Ps 89:10, 13; 98:1) and prophets (Isa 40:10; 51:5; 52:10). The arm broken by God (Ezek 30:21-22) inverts the image to signal destroyed power. 1×
AR["ذِرَاعَ", "ذِرَاعُ", "وَ-بِ-ذِرَاعٍ", "وَ-بِ-ذِرَاعِ", "وَ-ذِرَاعُهُ", "وَبِ-ذِرَاعٍ", "وَبِذِرَاعٍ", "وَبِـ-ذِرَاعٍ", "وَذِرَاعُهُ", "يَا-ذِرَاعَ"]·ben["-এবং-বাহুতে", "এবং-তাঁর-বাহু", "এবং-তার-বাহু", "এবং-দিয়ে", "এবং-বাহু-দিয়ে", "এবং-বাহুতে", "ও-তার-বাহু", "ও-বাহুতে", "বাহু"]·DE["Arm", "Arm-von", "der-Arm-", "und-Arm", "und-durch-arm", "und-mit-Arm", "und-mit-arm"]·EN["and-His-arm", "and-by-arm", "and-by-the-arm-of", "and-his-arm", "and-with-arm", "arm-of", "arm-of-", "the-arm-of"]·FR["bras", "bras-de", "et-avec-arm", "et-avec-bras", "et-bras", "et-dans-bras", "et-par-arm"]·heb["ו-ב-זרוע", "ו-זרועו", "זרוע"]·HI["और-उसकी-बांह", "और-उसकी-भुजा", "और-बांह-से", "और-भुजा-उसकी", "और-भुजा-से", "और-में-भुजा", "और-से-भुजा", "बांह", "बाहु", "भुजा", "सब-जातियोंकी-आँखोंके-सामने"]·ID["dan-dengan-lengan", "dan-lengan-Nya", "dan-lengannya", "lengan"]·IT["braccio", "braccio-di", "e-braccio", "e-con-arm", "e-con-braccio", "e-da-arm", "e-il-suo-seme", "e-in-braccio"]·jav["astanipun", "lan-astanipun", "lan-dening-lengen", "lan-kaliyan-lengen", "lan-kanthi-asta", "lan-kanthi-lengen", "lan-lengenipun", "lan-mawi-lengen", "lan-ngangge-lengen", "lengen"]·KO["그리고-그의-팔이", "그리고-에-팔로", "그리고-에서-팔", "그리고-팔-로", "그리고-팔로", "팔-", "팔-을", "팔을", "팔을-", "팔이여"]·PT["braço-de", "e-braço-dele", "e-com-braço", "e-pelo-braço-de", "e-seu-braço", "o-braço"]·RU["и-мышца-Его", "и-мышца-его", "и-мышцей", "и-мышцей-", "и-мышцей-его", "и-мышцею", "мышца", "мышцей-", "мышцу", "простёртою"]·ES["brazo-de", "el-brazo-de", "y-con-brazo", "y-por-el-brazo-de", "y-su-brazo"]·SW["mkono", "mkono-", "mkono-wa", "mkono-wa-", "na-kwa-mkono", "na-mkono-wake", "uzao", "zrwoa"]·TR["kol", "kolu-", "kolunu", "kolunu-", "ve-de-kol", "ve-kolda", "ve-kolile-", "ve-kolla", "ve-kolu", "ve-kolumla", "ve-koluyla-"]·urd["اور-اُس-کا-بازو", "اور-بازو-اُس-کا", "اور-بازو-سے", "اور-سے-بازو", "اے-بازو", "بازو", "بازو-"]
Gen 49:24, Deut 4:34, Deut 5:15, Deut 9:29, Deut 26:8, Deut 33:20, Deut 33:27, Judg 15:14, Judg 16:12, 1 Sam 2:31, 2 Kgs 17:36, 2 Chr 32:8 (+38 more)
1. arm of God (divine power metaphor) — Split from sense 94959. Criteria: God's mighty arm as agent of deliverance, judgment, creation - the exodus formula 'strong hand and outstretched arm,' psalms and prophets using arm imagery for divine power 43×
AR["أَذْرُعٌ", "ذِرَاعٌ", "ذِرَاعَ", "ذِرَاعِي", "وَ-بِ-ذِرَاعٍ", "وَ-بِ-ذِرَاعِ", "وَ-ذِرَاعُهُ", "وَبِ-ذِرَاعٍ", "وَبِذِرَاعٍ", "وَبِـ-ذِرَاعٍ", "وَذِرَاعُهُ", "يَا-ذِرَاعَ"]·ben["-এবং-বাহুতে", "আমার-বাহু", "আমার-বাহুর", "এবং-তাঁর-বাহু", "এবং-তার-বাহু", "এবং-দিয়ে", "এবং-বাহু-দিয়ে", "এবং-বাহুতে", "ও-বাহুতে", "বাহু"]·DE["Arm", "[זרוע]", "arms-von", "ein-Arm", "mein-Arm", "und-Arm", "und-durch-arm", "und-mit-Arm", "und-mit-arm"]·EN["My-arm", "an-arm", "and-His-arm", "and-by-arm", "and-by-the-arm-of", "and-with-arm", "arm-of", "arms-of", "my-arm", "the-arm-of"]·FR["arms-de", "bras", "et-avec-arm", "et-avec-bras", "et-bras", "et-dans-bras", "et-par-arm"]·heb["ו-ב-זרוע", "ו-זרועו", "זרוע", "זרועות", "זרועי"]·HI["और-उसकी-भुजा", "और-बांह-से", "और-भुजा-उसकी", "और-भुजा-से", "और-में-भुजा", "और-से-भुजा", "भुजा", "भुजा-मेरी-ने", "भुजाएं", "मेरी-भुजा", "मेरी-भुजा-पर", "सब-जातियोंकी-आँखोंके-सामने"]·ID["dan-dengan-lengan", "dan-lengan-Nya", "lengan", "lengan-Ku", "lengan-lengan"]·IT["arms-di", "braccio", "e-braccio", "e-con-arm", "e-con-braccio", "e-da-arm", "e-il-suo-seme", "e-in-braccio"]·jav["asta", "astanipun", "lan-astanipun", "lan-dening-lengen", "lan-kaliyan-lengen", "lan-kanthi-asta", "lan-kanthi-lengen", "lan-lengenipun", "lan-mawi-lengen", "lan-ngangge-lengen", "lengen", "lengen-Ingsun", "lengen-Kawula", "lengen-Ku", "lengen-lengen"]·KO["그리고-그의-팔이", "그리고-에-팔로", "그리고-에서-팔", "그리고-팔-로", "그리고-팔로", "나-의-팔-이", "나의-팔을", "나의-팔이", "팔-이", "팔들(접)", "팔을", "팔을-", "팔이", "팔이여"]·PT["braço", "braço-de", "braço-meu", "braços-de", "e-braço-dele", "e-com-braço", "e-pelo-braço-de", "e-seu-braço", "meu-braço", "é-o-braço"]·RU["и-мышца-Его", "и-мышцей", "и-мышцей-", "и-мышцею", "мышца", "мышца-Моя", "мышцей-", "мышцу", "мышцу-Мою", "мышцы", "простёртою"]·ES["brazo", "brazo-de", "brazo-de-mí", "el-brazo-de", "los-brazos", "mi-brazo", "y-con-brazo", "y-por-el-brazo-de", "y-su-brazo"]·SW["mikono", "mkono", "mkono-", "mkono-wa-", "mkono-wangu", "na-kwa-mkono", "na-mkono-wake"]·TR["kol", "kolları", "kolu", "kolu-", "kolum", "koluma", "kolunu-", "ve-de-kol", "ve-kolda", "ve-kolile-", "ve-kolla", "ve-kolu", "ve-kolumla", "ve-koluyla-"]·urd["اور-اُس-کا-بازو", "اور-بازو-سے", "اور-سے-بازو", "اے-بازو", "بازو", "میرا-بازو", "میرے-بازو", "میرے-بازو-نے"]
Exod 6:6, Exod 15:16, Deut 4:34, Deut 5:15, Deut 7:19, Deut 9:29, Deut 11:2, Deut 26:8, Deut 33:27, 2 Sam 22:35, 1 Kgs 8:42, 2 Kgs 17:36 (+31 more)
2. might, power, forces — Metonymic extension to abstract might, power, or military forces, where the physical limb is no longer in view (4 occurrences). Job 22:8 describes a 'man of arm' (אִישׁ זְרוֹעַ) meaning a man of power or influence; Jeremiah 17:5 curses the one who trusts in human 'arm' (i.e., human strength rather than God); Daniel 11:31 uses 'arms' (זְרֹעִים) for military forces. Swahili shifts from mkono (arm) to nguvu (strength/force), and Korean moves from 팔 to 세력 (forces/power), confirming that translators detect the leap from body part to abstract capacity. 4×
AR["بِذِرَاعِهِ", "ذُو-سَاعِدٍ", "ذِرَاعَهُ", "وَ-أَذْرُعٌ"]·ben["ও-বাহুগুলি", "তার-বাহু", "বাহুতে-তার", "বাহুর"]·DE["Arm", "[זרוע]", "und-Arm"]·EN["according-to-arm-his", "and-forces", "arm", "arm-his"]·FR["bras", "et-bras"]·heb["ו-זרועים", "זרוע", "זרועו", "ל-זרועו"]·HI["अपनी-भुजा", "और-भुजाएँ", "बाँह-अपनी", "बाहु-के"]·ID["Dan-lengan-lengan", "berkuasa", "dengan-lengannya", "lengan-nya"]·IT["braccio", "e-braccio", "il-suo-seme"]·jav["kuwat", "lan-lengen-lengen", "lengen-nipun,", "miturut-kakiyatanipun"]·KO["그리고-팔들이", "그의-팔로", "그의-팔으로", "팔의"]·PT["E-braços", "de-braço", "segundo-seu-braço", "seu-braço,"]·RU["И-войска", "мышцей-своей", "по-силе", "силы"]·ES["Y-brazos", "brazo", "brazo-suyo", "según-su-brazo"]·SW["kwa-nguvu-zake", "na-nguvu", "nguvu-yake", "wa-nguvu"]·TR["gücüne-göre", "kolu", "ve-kollar"]·urd["اور-فوجیں", "بازو-اپنا", "بازو-اپنے-سے", "بازو-والے"]
2. literal arm (physical body part) — Split from sense 94959. Criteria: The actual human arm as anatomy - holding, embracing, stretching, breaking as literal physical actions 42×
AR["الذِّرَاعَ", "ذِراعاً", "ذِرَاعَ", "ذِرَاعَا", "ذِرَاعَيْ", "ذِرَاعُ", "سَواعِدَ", "وَ-أَذْرُعَ", "وَ-أَذْرُعُ", "وَ-ذِرَاعُهُ", "وَحْدَكَ", "وَذِرَاعَا", "وَذِرَاعُهُ"]·ben["আর-তার-সহায়কেরা", "আর-বাহুগুলি", "এবং-তার-বাহু", "এবং-বাহু", "ও-তার-বাহু", "ও-বাহুগুলি", "তুমি-একা", "বাহু", "বাহুগুলি"]·DE["Arm", "Arm-", "Arm-von", "[וזרעות]", "[זרוע]", "allein", "arm", "der-Arm-", "die-Arme", "und-Arm"]·EN["alone", "and-arms-of", "and-arms-of-", "and-his-arm", "and-its-arm", "arm", "arm-of", "arm-of-", "arms-of", "arms-of-", "the-arm-of"]·FR["arm", "bras", "bras-de", "et-bras", "à-seul"]·heb["ו-זרועו", "ו-זרועות", "זרוע", "זרועות", "זרעי", "לבדך"]·HI["अकेला-है-तू", "और-उसकी-बांह", "और-उसकी-भुजा", "और-बांह-उसकी", "और-बांहें", "और-भुजाएँ", "बांह", "बांहों", "बाहु", "भुजा", "भुजाएँ", "भुजाएं"]·ID["Dan-lengan-lengan", "dan-lengan", "dan-lengan-lengan", "dan-lengannya", "lengan", "lengan-lengan", "seorang-diri"]·IT["arm", "arms-di", "braccio", "braccio-di", "e-braccio", "e-il-suo-seme", "solo"]·jav["lan-lengen", "lan-lengen-ipun", "lan-lengenipun", "lengen", "lengen-lengen", "nanging-lengen-lengen", "piyambakan"]·KO["그리고-그의-팔이", "그리고-팔들이", "그리고-팔들이-", "그리고-팔이-그의", "팔(접)", "팔-", "팔-을", "팔들-이", "팔들을-", "팔들이", "팔을", "팔을-", "홀로"]·PT["E-as-forças-da", "braço", "braço-de", "braços-de", "e-as-forças-do", "e-braço-dele", "e-braços-de", "e-os-braços", "e-seu-braço", "o-braço", "os-braços-dos", "somente-tu"]·RU["И-мышцы", "а-мышцы", "и-мышца-его", "и-мышцей-его", "и-мышцы", "и-руки", "мышца", "мышцу", "мышцы", "один-Ты", "руку"]·ES["Y-brazos-de", "brazo", "brazo-de", "brazos-de", "el-brazo", "el-brazo-de", "los-brazos-de", "solo-tu", "y-brazo-su", "y-brazos-de", "y-los-brazos-de", "y-su-brazo"]·SW["mikono-ya", "mkono", "mkono-wa", "na-mikono", "na-mikono-ya", "na-mkono-wake", "na-nguvu", "peke-yako", "uzao", "zrwoa"]·TR["kol", "kolları", "kollarını", "kolu", "kolunu", "ve-kolları", "ve-kolu", "yalnız"]·urd["اور-اُس-کا-بازو", "اور-بازو", "اور-بازو-اُس-کا", "اور-بازوؤں-", "اکیلا-تُو", "بازو", "بازو-", "بازوؤں-"]
Gen 49:24, Deut 33:20, Judg 15:14, Judg 16:12, 1 Sam 2:31, 1 Sam 2:31, 2 Sam 1:10, 2 Kgs 9:24, 2 Chr 32:8, Job 22:9, Job 26:2, Job 35:9 (+30 more)
3. shoulder, foreleg of animal — The shoulder or foreleg of a sacrificial animal, a specialized anatomical sense restricted to ritual law (2 occurrences). In Numbers 6:19 the boiled 'shoulder' of the ram is placed in the Nazirite's hands, and Deuteronomy 18:3 assigns the 'shoulder, the two cheeks, and the stomach' as the priest's portion. Korean 어깨 ('shoulder') replaces 팔 ('arm'), Swahili bega ('shoulder') replaces mkono ('arm/hand'), and French épaule ('shoulder') replaces bras ('arm') — a remarkable cross-linguistic consensus that this is a distinct cut of meat, not the same body-part concept as the human arm. 2×
AR["الذِّرَاعَ", "الْـذِرَاعَ"]·ben["সামনের-পা", "সেই-কাঁধ"]·DE["der-Schulter"]·EN["the-shoulder"]·FR["le-épaule"]·heb["ה-זרוע", "ה-זרע"]·HI["कंधा", "बाजू"]·ID["kaki", "paha"]·IT["il-spalla"]·jav["bahu", "lengen"]·KO["그-어깨", "어깨와"]·PT["o-braço", "o-ombro"]·RU["-плечо", "плечо"]·ES["el-brazo"]·SW["Hzra", "bega"]·TR["kolunu-", "kürek"]·urd["بازو", "کندھا"]
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×)H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)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×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)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×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ n.f. Ex 6:6 and (rare) m. Is 51:5, cf. infr. arm, shoulder, strength (NH id.; Assyrian (Tel el Amarna102, 1. 12, etc.) zurû, cf. Jastrow JBL, xi, 1892, 123; Arabic ذِرَاعٌ; Aramaic דְּרָעָא, ܕܪܳܥܳܐ; Ethiopic መዝራዕት )—abs. זְרוֹעַ Ex 6:6 +, זְרֹעַ Dt 7:19 +; cstr. זְרוֹעַ ψ 10:15 +, זְרֹעַ ψ 89:11 +; sf. זְרוֹעִי Je 27:5 ψ 89:2, זְרֹעִי Is 51:5; 63:5; זְרוֹעֲךָ ψ 71:18 +, זְרֹעֲךָ…