Word Study for H2152 (זַלְעָפָה)

zalʻâphâh /zal-aw-faw'/ Ask about this word

Rootor זִלְעָפָהxlit zilʻâphâph corrected to zilʻâphâh · from זָעַף

Meaninga glow (of wind or anger); also a famine (as consuming)

KJV usagehorrible, horror, terrible.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zalʻâphâh — 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 zalʻâphâh, represented by H2152, describes a consuming and intense force. Its base definition is a glow of wind or anger, or a famine, and is translated as horrible, horror, or terrible. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses, each instance highlighting a different aspect of its severe nature.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H2152 is used to convey concepts of divine judgment, physical affliction, and emotional distress. In the context of God's wrath, it is described as an "horrible tempest" that will rain down upon the wicked, alongside fire and brimstone Psalms 11:6. It is also used to depict extreme suffering, where a "terrible famine" causes the people's skin to become "black like an oven" Lamentations 5:10. Finally, it expresses a profound emotional reaction to sin, where the psalmist states, "Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law" Psalms 119:53.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H2152 is found:

H7563 râshâʻ (wicked): This term describes a morally wrong or ungodly person. It appears in two of the three verses featuring H2152, identifying the target of divine judgment Psalms 11:6 and the cause of righteous horror Psalms 119:53.
H7307 rûwach (wind; by resemblance breath... spirit... tempest): This word is directly paired with H2152 to form the phrase "horrible tempest" Psalms 11:6, signifying a violent and destructive wind as an instrument of judgment.
H7458 râʻâb (famine): This word for hunger or dearth is explicitly qualified by H2152 in Lamentations 5:10 as a "terrible famine," emphasizing the severity of the affliction.
H784 ʼêsh (fire): Often associated with judgment and purification, fire is listed alongside the "horrible tempest" as part of the punishment for the wicked Psalms 11:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2152 is significant in understanding the biblical concept of consequences.

Instrument of Divine Judgment: The term is an element of God's retributive justice against the wicked. The "horrible tempest" is not a natural disaster but a supernaturally appointed punishment, combined with snares, fire, and brimstone Psalms 11:6.
Physical Manifestation of Calamity: H2152 is tied to the dire physical suffering of a "terrible famine," which serves as a devastating consequence in the biblical narrative Lamentations 5:10.
Righteous Anguish over Sin: The word captures the appropriate emotional response of the godly to lawlessness. The "horror" experienced is a visceral reaction to seeing God's law forsaken by the wicked Psalms 119:53.

Summary

In summary, H2152 is a powerful and specific term that conveys more than simple fear or difficulty. It encapsulates the extremities of divine wrath, physical deprivation, and righteous horror in the face of evil. Though used sparingly, its presence in scripture points to the terrifying and consuming nature of judgment and the severe consequences of turning away from God's law.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

זִלְעָפוֹת
זַלְעֲפוֹת
זַלְעָפָה

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

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.