or זִלְעָפָהxlit zilʻâphâph corrected to zilʻâphâh; from זָעַף; a glow (of wind or anger); also a famine (as consuming); horrible, horror, terrible.
Transliteration:zalʻâphâh
Pronunciation:zal-aw-faw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun H2152, *zalʻâphâh* (or *zilʻâphâh*), derives from the verbal root H2194 (*zaʻaph*), which signifies "to be angry, vexed, indignant." This etymological connection immediately imbues *zalʻâphâh* with a sense of intense, often destructive, emotion or phenomenon. Its core semantic range encompasses:
1. **Scorching Heat/Wind:** Literally, "a glow" or "burning heat," often associated with a fierce, destructive wind. This evokes imagery of a parching, consuming force, akin to a sirocco or a fiery tempest.
2. **Fierce Anger/Wrath:** By extension from the idea of a "glow," it refers to intense, burning anger or indignation, particularly divine wrath. This is an anger that consumes or devastates.
3. **Consuming Famine:** Metaphorically, it describes a famine so severe that it "consumes" or "scorches" the land and its inhabitants, much like fire or a scorching wind. It denotes the extreme, devastating nature of the hunger.
4. **Horror/Terror:** As an outcome or experience of such intense phenomena (whether wrath, destructive wind, or famine), it signifies a profound sense of dread, horror, or terror. It describes the overwhelming emotional impact of a terrible event or realization.
Thus, *zalʻâphâh* consistently points to an extreme, intense, and often destructive reality, whether physical (scorching wind, famine) or emotional (anger, horror).
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H2152 appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, but its occurrences are highly significant, each illuminating a facet of its intense meaning:
1. **[[Psalm 11:6]]**: "Upon the wicked he will rain snares, fire and brimstone and a scorching wind (zalʻâphâh) shall be the portion of their cup." Here, *zalʻâphâh* is presented as an instrument of divine judgment. It stands alongside "fire and brimstone" as a devastating, consuming element meted out to the wicked. This context highlights the term's association with destructive power and the severity of God's righteous indignation against sin. The "scorching wind" is not merely a natural phenomenon but an active agent of divine retribution.
2. **[[Lamentations 5:10]]**: "Our skin is hot as an oven, because of the terrible (zalʻâphâh) famine." In this somber lament over the destruction of Jerusalem, *zalʻâphâh* describes the extreme and consuming nature of the famine. The people's skin is "hot as an oven" due to the fever and dehydration caused by starvation, vividly portraying the agonizing physical effects of this "terrible" or "scorching" famine. Here, the word emphasizes the absolute devastation and suffering brought about by a prolonged lack of sustenance, reinforcing its meaning as a consuming force.
3. **[[Psalm 119:53]]**: "Horror (zalʻâphâh) has seized me because of the wicked who forsake your law." This passage shifts the focus from external calamity to an internal, emotional response. The psalmist expresses a deep sense of horror, dread, or indignation at the actions of those who willfully abandon God's Torah. This is not mere fear, but a profound revulsion and anguish stemming from a righteous heart grieved by ungodliness. The intensity of this emotional "horror" reflects the gravity of forsaking divine law in the eyes of one devoted to God.
Across these three distinct contexts, *zalʻâphâh* consistently denotes an overwhelming, intense, and often destructive force or emotion, whether it is divine wrath, a devastating famine, or righteous horror.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H2152 connects it to several key biblical concepts and other Hebrew terms:
* **H2194 (*zaʻaph*):** The root verb, meaning "to be angry, vexed, indignant." This is the foundational link, underscoring the intense emotional or fiery aspect inherent in *zalʻâphâh*. Any instance of *zalʻâphâh* carries with it a sense of the "heat" or "fury" implied by *zaʻaph*.
* **Divine Wrath:** Concepts like H639 (*aph*, "nose," often used for anger), H2534 (*chemah*, "heat," "wrath"), and H5678 (*evrah*, "overflowing anger") are closely related. *Zalʻâphâh* in [[Psalm 11:6]] clearly aligns with the biblical portrayal of God's consuming wrath against sin.
* **Judgment and Calamity:** Words describing destruction, ruin, or devastating events, such as H7722 (*shoah*, "ruin, devastation"), H7701 (*shod*, "violence, devastation"), and H7760 (*shavah*, "desolation"), share conceptual space with *zalʻâphâh*'s depiction of a "terrible famine" or "scorching wind" of judgment.
* **Famine:** The direct reference to "famine" links it to H7458 (*ra'ab*), the general term for hunger or famine. However, *zalʻâphâh* emphasizes the extreme, consuming, and horrific nature of that famine.
* **Fear and Dread:** In its sense of "horror," *zalʻâphâh* resonates with terms like H6343 (*pachad*, "dread, terror") or H3372 (*yirah*, "fear, awe"), though *zalʻâphâh* often carries a more specific connotation of righteous indignation or a response to profound wickedness.
The common thread among these related terms and concepts is intensity and often a destructive or overwhelming quality, whether physically or emotionally experienced.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H2152 *zalʻâphâh* is profound, touching upon aspects of divine justice, the consequences of sin, and the righteous response to evil:
1. **Divine Justice and Retribution:** In [[Psalm 11:6]], *zalʻâphâh* functions as a vivid metaphor for God's active and consuming judgment against the wicked. It underscores the biblical truth that God is not indifferent to evil but will execute righteous retribution. The "scorching wind" signifies the inescapable and devastating nature of divine wrath, which purifies by consuming what is unholy. This demonstrates God's absolute holiness and His commitment to justice, where sin cannot go unpunished.
2. **Consequences of Disobedience:** The use of *zalʻâphâh* in [[Lamentations 5:10]] to describe a "terrible famine" highlights the severe and often physical consequences of national sin and covenant disobedience. Famine, pestilence, and war were frequently depicted in the Torah as curses for rebellion against God (cf. [[Deuteronomy 28]]). Thus, *zalʻâphâh* here serves as a stark reminder of the painful realities that can result when a people turn away from divine instruction, emphasizing the consuming nature of such judgment.
3. **Righteous Horror and Indignation:** The psalmist's experience of *zalʻâphâh* in [[Psalm 119:53]] reveals a crucial aspect of sanctified emotion. This "horror" is not merely fear of punishment, but a deep, spiritual anguish and indignation at the sight of those who willfully reject God's law. It reflects a heart aligned with God's own abhorrence of sin. This demonstrates that true devotion to God includes a passionate aversion to unrighteousness, a "holy horror" that stems from valuing God's truth above all else. It underscores the moral sensitivity of the righteous in the face of widespread apostasy.
In essence, *zalʻâphâh* points to the intense reality of God's character – His holy wrath against sin, the severity of His judgments, and the profound moral response He elicits from His faithful ones.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H2152, *zalʻâphâh*, is a powerful term denoting an intense, consuming, and often destructive force or emotion. Rooted in the concept of "anger" or "indignation" (H2194), its semantic range extends to "scorching wind," "fierce anger," "consuming famine," and "horror" or "terror." Biblically, it vividly portrays divine judgment as a "scorching wind" upon the wicked ([[Psalm 11:6]]), describes the devastating reality of a "terrible famine" as a consequence of sin ([[Lamentations 5:10]]), and expresses the profound "horror" of a righteous soul confronted by those who forsake God's law ([[Psalm 119:53]]). Theologically, *zalʻâphâh* underscores the severity of God's justice, the dire consequences of disobedience, and the righteous indignation that should characterize those who truly love God's commands. It consistently conveys an overwhelming intensity, whether in the context of divine action, human suffering, or spiritual anguish.
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