a primitive root (compare זוּל); to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal; blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.
Transliteration:zâlal
Pronunciation:zaw-lal'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb `{{H2151}}` *zâlal* is a primitive root, carrying the core semantic idea of "to shake" or "to quake," akin to something unstable in the wind. This foundational physical sense gives rise to a rich figurative semantic range, primarily denoting moral looseness, worthlessness, or prodigality. The transition from physical instability to moral degradation is central to its meaning.
Figuratively, *zâlal* describes a lack of internal discipline, leading to unprincipled behavior. It can manifest as:
1. **Prodigality/Wastefulness:** Particularly in the context of excessive consumption, leading to the sense of "glutton" or "riotous (eater)." This implies a lack of control over appetites and resources.
2. **Worthlessness/Contemptibility:** When something or someone is "shaken" or "loose" morally, they lose their value and become "vile," "despised," or "lightly esteemed." This can be a state of moral degradation or the result of judgment.
3. **Degradation/Corruption:** The root suggests a falling away from a proper standard, becoming debased or corrupt.
The various English translations—"blow down," "glutton," "riotous (eater)," "vile"—each capture a facet of this dynamic semantic range, highlighting either the excessive indulgence or the resulting state of low esteem.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of `{{H2151}}` in the Hebrew Bible illustrate its multifaceted meaning:
* **Deuteronomy 21:20**: "And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’" Here, *zâlal* is translated "glutton" (often paired with "drunkard"), clearly indicating excessive, uncontrolled consumption. This context highlights the moral failing and societal disruption caused by such behavior, warranting severe parental and communal intervention.
* **Proverbs 23:21**: "For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe one with rags." Similar to Deuteronomy, *zâlal* again denotes "glutton," reinforcing the association with unrestrained appetite and its negative consequences, specifically poverty and ruin. This proverb underscores the wisdom tradition's emphasis on self-control and moderation.
* **Lamentations 1:7**: "Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and wandering all the precious things that were hers from days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the foe, with none to help her; her foes looked on her and scoffed at her Sabbaths." The translation "scoffed at" or "made sport of" here for *zâlal* can be understood as treating something with contempt or making it "vile" through derision, aligning with the "worthless" aspect of the semantic range. The enemies, in their triumph, treat Jerusalem's sacred institutions as loose or insignificant.
* **Lamentations 1:8**: "Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore she became filthy; all who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns her face away." Here, *zâlal* is translated "despise" or "vile." Jerusalem's profound sin has rendered her contemptible in the eyes of those who once honored her. The moral "looseness" of sin leads to a state of being regarded as worthless.
* **Lamentations 1:11**: "All her people groan as they search for bread; they exchange their treasures for food to revive their strength. 'Look, O LORD, and see, for I am despised.'" In this poignant lament, *zâlal* again means "despised" or "vile." The people of Jerusalem, reduced to selling their valuables for sustenance, feel utterly worthless and contemptible in their desperation and humiliation.
* **Lamentations 4:2**: "The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen pots, the work of a potter's hands!" The phrase "regarded as earthen pots" translates *zâlal* in the sense of being "accounted as vile" or "lightly esteemed." Sons who were once priceless are now considered cheap and disposable, reflecting the profound degradation brought about by the siege and judgment.
Across these contexts, `{{H2151}}` reveals a consistent progression: from an initial lack of self-control (gluttony, riotous living) to a subsequent state of being regarded as worthless, despised, or vile. This progression is often tied to the consequences of sin and divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of `{{H2151}}` *zâlal* intersects with several key biblical concepts and related Hebrew words:
* **Lack of Control/Excess:** The noun `{{H2149}}` *zôlēl*, derived directly from `{{H2151}}`, specifically denotes a "glutton" or "riotous eater," emphasizing the uncontrolled appetite. This connects to themes of self-mastery versus indulgence. Other words related to excess include `{{H5433}}` *sāḇāʾ* (to drink to excess, be drunk) and `{{H6584}}` *pārats* (to break forth, often implying an uncontrolled outburst or excess).
* **Worthlessness/Contempt:** The sense of being "vile" or "despised" links `{{H2151}}` with terms such as `{{H959}}` *bāzâ* (to despise, hold in contempt), `{{H7034}}` *qālâ* (to be light, despised, treated with contempt), and `{{H7036}}` *qālôn* (shame, dishonor, disgrace). The state of being *zâlal* can be both the cause and the effect of being held in low esteem.
* **Moral Decay/Sin:** The figurative extension of *zâlal* into moral looseness places it within the broader biblical vocabulary of sin, unrighteousness, and moral corruption, such as `{{H7451}}` *raʿ* (evil, wickedness), `{{H6586}}` *pāshaʿ* (transgress, rebel), and `{{H5771}}` *ʿāwôn* (iniquity, guilt). The "shaking" or "looseness" of *zâlal* can be seen as a metaphor for a life unanchored by divine law or wisdom.
* **Poverty/Ruin:** As seen in Proverbs, the consequences of gluttony and riotous living (stemming from *zâlal*) directly lead to poverty (`{{H7389}}` *râsh*). This highlights the destructive outcome of moral and financial imprudence.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2151}}` *zâlal* is profound, touching upon several core biblical doctrines:
1. **Divine Wisdom and Human Responsibility:** The use of *zâlal* in Proverbs and Deuteronomy underscores God's call for self-control, temperance, and discipline, particularly in appetites. It presents a stark contrast between the path of wisdom, which leads to life and prosperity, and the path of folly (characterized by *zâlal*), which leads to ruin and contempt. Humans are held responsible for their choices, and moral looseness is depicted as a grave failing.
2. **The Nature and Consequences of Sin:** The progression from physical indulgence to moral degradation and subsequent contemptibility vividly illustrates the destructive power of sin. Sin, as a form of "looseness" from God's standards, inevitably leads to a diminished state, making individuals or nations "vile" in the eyes of others and, more importantly, in the eyes of God.
3. **Divine Judgment and Humiliation:** In Lamentations, *zâlal* is a key term in describing the state of Jerusalem under divine judgment. Her sins have made her "despised" and "vile," reflecting the humiliation and loss of honor that accompany God's righteous wrath. This demonstrates that moral laxity and covenant infidelity have tangible, often public, consequences, leading to a loss of dignity and standing.
4. **The Value of God's People:** The lament that "precious sons" are "accounted as vile" (Lamentations 4:2) speaks to the tragic reversal of status caused by sin and judgment. It highlights the inherent value God places on His people, even as their actions can lead to a state where they are treated as worthless. This tension underscores the depth of their fall and the severity of their plight.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb `{{H2151}}` *zâlal* encapsulates a powerful semantic journey from physical instability to profound moral and social degradation. Its core meaning of "to shake" or "to quake" metaphorically extends to a life "loose" from discipline, resulting in prodigality, excessive indulgence (particularly as a "glutton" or "riotous eater"), and ultimately, a state of being "vile," "worthless," or "despised." Biblical occurrences in Deuteronomy and Proverbs warn against the dangers of uncontrolled appetites and their ruinous consequences, while its prominent use in Lamentations poignantly describes the humiliation and contempt faced by Jerusalem due to her sin and divine judgment. Theologically, *zâlal* serves as a stark reminder of the biblical call to self-control, the destructive nature of moral laxity, and the humbling consequences of sin that can lead even the precious to be accounted as vile. It underscores the profound truth that a life unanchored by divine wisdom inevitably drifts into disrepute and ruin.
TRV