Word Study for H2151 (זָלַל) | Strong's Concordance

zâlal /zaw-lal'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root (compare זוּל)

Meaningto shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal

KJV usageblow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zâlal — 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 zâlal, represented by H2151, is a primitive root with a dual meaning. It can refer to physical shaking, as in the wind, or to being morally loose, worthless, or prodigal. Its applications in scripture include descriptions like glutton, riotous, vile, and the action of being blown or flowing down. It appears 8 times across 8 unique verses, illustrating its use in contexts of both natural force and moral failure.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H2151 captures two distinct ideas. First, it describes a powerful physical instability, seen when the prophet asks that the "mountains might flow down" at God's presence (Isaiah 64:1, Isaiah 64:3). This usage conveys a sense of quaking or shaking before divine power. Second, and more frequently, it denotes moral worthlessness and lack of self-control. It is used to label a person as "vile" (Jeremiah 15:19, Lamentations 1:11) or a "glutton" (Proverbs 23:21, Deuteronomy 21:20). It also describes behavior, such as being among "riotous eaters" Proverbs 23:20 or a companion of "riotous men" Proverbs 28:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context of moral looseness associated with H2151:

H5433 çâbâʼ (to quaff to satiety, i.e. become tipsy): This word for a drunkard or wine-bibber is frequently paired with H2151. In Deuteronomy 21:20, a rebellious son is described as a "glutton, and a drunkard," and Proverbs 23:21 warns that "the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty."
H1320 bâsâr (flesh; by extension, body, person): The object of gluttonous behavior is specified in Proverbs 23:20, which warns against being among "riotous eaters of flesh."
H3196 yayin (wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication): The warning in Proverbs 23:20 places "winebibbers" alongside riotous eaters, linking the consumption of wine with the behavior described by H2151.
H400 ʼôkel (food): In a state of desperation, the people of Jerusalem give their treasures for "meat" to survive, a situation that leads to the declaration, "I am become vile" Lamentations 1:11.

Theological Significance

The theological and moral weight of H2151 is significant, highlighting key principles of wisdom and divine judgment.

Moral Distinction: The word establishes a clear contrast between good and evil. The LORD instructs Jeremiah to "take forth the precious from the vile," showing a separation between what is divinely valued and what is worthless Jeremiah 15:19.
Consequences of Indulgence: The wisdom literature uses H2151 to warn against a lack of discipline. Being a "glutton" leads to poverty Proverbs 23:21, and associating with "riotous men" brings shame to one's father Proverbs 28:7. This connects uncontrolled appetite directly to social and economic ruin.
The Power of God's Presence: In contrast to human weakness, the word is used to describe the immense power of God, before whom even mountains "flowed down" Isaiah 64:3. The same root that signifies human worthlessness also depicts the awesome, humbling effect of God's appearance.

Summary

In summary, H2151 is a dynamic word that encompasses both profound physical force and deep moral failing. It serves as a label for those who are gluttonous and undisciplined, leading a life considered vile or worthless, and stands as a stark warning in wisdom texts. Simultaneously, it is used to paint a picture of God's awesome power, capable of making the very mountains quake. This single term bridges the gap between the consequences of human prodigality and the overwhelming power of the divine.

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 verb across 10 occurrences, inflected in 7 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.

זוֹלֵל
נָזֹלּוּ
תֵּזְלִי
הִזִּילוּ
זוֹלְלִים
זֹלֲלֵי
זוֹלֵלָה

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 8 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (3 verses); never once in the other 34.

Deuteronomy

Proverbs

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

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.