Word Study for H2106 (זָוִית)

zâvîyth /zaw-veeth'/ Ask about this word

Rootapparently from the same root as זִו (in the sense of prominence)

Meaningan angle (as projecting), i.e. (by implication) a corner-column (or anta)

KJV usagecorner(stone).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zâvîyth — 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 zâvîyth, represented by H2106, refers to a corner-column or corner(stone). Based on a root word implying prominence, it denotes a projecting angle. It is a rare term, appearing only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, yet it carries significant metaphorical weight in its contexts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H2106 offer distinct but complementary imagery. In Psalms, it is used to describe the ideal state for the daughters of Israel, that they "may be as corner stones H2106, polished after the similitude of a palace" Psalms 144:12. This paints a picture of beauty, stability, and high value. In Zechariah, the word appears in a description of God's people being filled with blessing, "as the corners H2106 of the altar" Zechariah 9:15, linking the term to a sacred space of worship and sacrifice.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words found in these passages help illuminate the meaning of H2106:

H1323 bath (daughter): This word is used for the women who are likened to corner stones in Psalms 144:12. It is a term of relationship used both literally and figuratively, as when Zion is called a "daughter" Zechariah 9:9.
H1964 hêykâl (palace, temple): The corner stones in Psalms are described as being polished like those of a "palace". This term refers to a large public building, often God's temple, a place of beauty and holiness Psalms 65:4.
H4196 mizbêach (altar): This is the object whose "corners" are mentioned in Zechariah 9:15. The altar is a central element of worship, where sacrifices are brought to God Leviticus 17:11.
H68 ʼeben (stone): This general term for "stone" provides a foundation for the specific meaning of corner(stone). It is used for the "sling stones" in Zechariah 9:15 and is also described as a "precious corner stone" for a foundation in Zion Isaiah 28:16.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2106 is found in its powerful metaphors for God's people.

Dignity and Foundational Value: By comparing daughters to polished "corner stones" of a palace, the Psalmist assigns them a role of immense worth, structural importance, and refined beauty within the community Psalms 144:12. They are seen as essential to the strength and integrity of the household.
Sacred Fullness: The image of the "corners of the altar" being filled suggests a complete and overflowing blessing from God Zechariah 9:15. It connects the people's restored state to the holiness and covenantal purpose of the altar itself.
Strength and Stability: As an architectural term, a corner-column is a point of strength that joins and supports the entire structure. Metaphorically, this highlights the role of certain individuals or the community as a whole in providing stability and unity.

Summary

In summary, H2106 is more than a simple architectural term for a corner. Though used infrequently, it serves as a potent metaphor in Scripture. It transforms the image of a structural angle into a symbol of human value, beauty, and sacred completeness, illustrating how God views His people as foundational, precious, and integral to His glorious house.

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.

זָוִיֹּת
זָוִיּוֹת

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 Psalms and Zechariah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

Zechariah

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.