Word Study for H2070 (זְבוּב)

zᵉbûwb /zeb-oob'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom an unused root (meaning to flit)

Meaninga fly (especially one of a stinging nature)

KJV usagefly.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zᵉbûwb — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word zᵉbûwb, represented by H2070, is the term for a fly. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from an unused root that means "to flit," the word specifically suggests a fly of a stinging nature, highlighting its potential as a nuisance or a more significant threat.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H2070 is used both literally and figuratively. In Ecclesiastes, it illustrates a principle of wisdom, where "Dead flies" cause a perfumer's ointment to stink, showing how a small amount of folly can ruin a reputation for wisdom and honor Ecclesiastes 10:1. In Isaiah, the word takes on a symbolic meaning, where the LORD will "hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt," using it to represent a foreign army summoned for judgment Isaiah 7:18.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context to the uses of H2070:

H4194 mâveth (death): This word is directly linked to the fly's impact in Ecclesiastes 10:1. It is the state of death that transforms the fly from a simple pest into an agent of corruption and spoilage.
H1682 dᵉbôwrâh (bee): This term appears alongside the fly in Isaiah's prophecy. Just as the Lord will hiss for the fly from Egypt, He will also call for the bee from Assyria, with both insects symbolizing hostile nations used as divine instruments Isaiah 7:18.

Theological Significance

The symbolic weight of H2070 is significant, representing two distinct concepts:

Agent of Corruption: The image of dead flies spoiling ointment serves as a powerful metaphor. It demonstrates how something small and seemingly insignificant, like a little folly, can corrupt and ruin something of great value, such as a reputation Ecclesiastes 10:1.
Instrument of Judgment: In a prophetic context, the fly symbolizes a foreign power, specifically Egypt, summoned by God. The act of the LORD "hissing" for the fly portrays His sovereign control over nations, using them to carry out His purposes Isaiah 7:18.

Summary

In summary, H2070 moves beyond its simple definition of "fly" to serve as a potent biblical symbol. Though used only twice, it effectively illustrates how even a minor impurity can cause major corruption and how God can command foreign nations, represented as flies and bees, to act as agents of His judgment. It demonstrates how common creatures are used in Scripture to convey profound spiritual and political truths.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

זְבוּבֵי
זְּבוּב

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ecclesiastes and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.