H2221 H2221
sowing, what is sown; seed in the ground or the act of planting
This noun refers to sowing or the thing sown—seed placed in the earth. In Leviticus 11:37, if a carcass falls on 'seed for sowing,' it remains clean until wetted. In Isaiah 61:11, Yahweh will cause righteousness to spring up 'as a garden causes its sowing to sprout'—a simile for the inevitable fruition of God's redemptive purposes. The term is an intensive formation, emphasizing the act or object of planting. It belongs to agricultural language pressed into service for theological metaphor.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A noun denoting seed intended for sowing or the act of sowing itself. Leviticus uses it in ritual law: dry seed remains ritually clean even if contacted by something unclean, highlighting the resilience of seed before germination. Isaiah deploys it metaphorically: just as a garden inevitably sprouts what is sown, so Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations. The agricultural image underscores certainty and natural process, applied to divine promise. The intensive form suggests focused, intentional planting. 2×
AR["زَرْعٍ", "مَزْرُوعَاتُهَا"]·ben["তার-বীজ", "বোনা"]·DE["[זרועיה]", "sowing"]·EN["its-sowing", "sowing"]·FR["[זרועיה]", "semant"]·heb["זרוע", "זרועיה"]·HI["और-जैसे", "बीज"]·ID["benih-benihnya", "yang-akan-ditabur"]·IT["[זרועיה]", "sowing"]·jav["sesebar", "winihi-ipun"]·KO["그-씨-뿌린-것이", "심은"]·PT["semeadura", "sementes-dele"]·RU["посевное", "семена-свои"]·ES["siembra", "sus-semillas"]·SW["mbegu-zake", "ya-kupanda"]·TR["ekiilmislerini", "ekilecek"]·urd["اپنے-بیجوں", "بونے-کے"]
Related Senses
H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)H0517 1. mother, female parent (217×)G0435 1. man, male person (202×)G1135 1. woman, adult female (190×)H2233 1. offspring, descendants (172×)H0001 2. ancestor, forefather (146×)H5288 1. Youth, young man (122×)H0269 1. sister (female sibling) (113×)H1755 1. generation, contemporaries (96×)G5043 1. child, offspring (89×)G0444 2. people, humankind (86×)H3206 1. child, boy, youth (86×)H2145 1. male (human being) (79×)G3384 1. mother (77×)H6485a 1. Qal passive participle: numbered ones, enrollment (76×)H1397 1. man (strong/mighty) (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† זֵרוּעַ n.[m.] sowing, thing sown (intensive format. according to Ol§ 186 b Sta§ 228, yet on this and foll. cf. BaNB 42, 178 Anm. 4)—זֶרַע ז׳ Lv 11:37 (P), כְּגַנָּה זֵֽרוּעֶיהָ תַצְמִיחַ Is 61:11 in sim. of Yahweh’s causing righteousness to spring up.