Word Study for H2179 (זָנַב) | Strong's Concordance

zânab /zaw-nab'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root meaning to wag · used only as a denominative from זָנָב

Meaningto curtail, i.e. cut off the rear

KJV usagesmite the hindmost.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zânab — 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 zânab, represented by H2179, is a primitive root used as a denominative to mean to curtail, i.e. cut off the rear; smite the hindmost. It appears 2 times in 2 unique verses, describing a specific and aggressive action directed at the rear of a group.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H2179 is presented in two distinct contexts. In Deuteronomy 25:18, it describes a hostile act against Israel, where the enemy smote the hindmost of the people, specifically targeting "all that were feeble" when they were faint and weary. In contrast, Joshua 10:19 uses the term as a military command, where Joshua instructs his forces to pursue their enemies and smite the hindmost of them to prevent them from reaching the safety of their cities.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the circumstances surrounding this action:

H2826 châshal (feeble): This word, meaning "to make (intrans. be) unsteady, i.e. weak; feeble," is used to describe the victims of the attack in Deuteronomy 25:18, emphasizing their vulnerability.
H341 ʼôyêb (enemy): Defined as "an adversary; enemy, foe," this term identifies the target of the command in Joshua 10:19, where Israel is to smite the hindmost of their enemies.
H7291 râdaph (pursue): This root, meaning "to run after (usually with hostile intent)," describes the action leading to the use of H2179. Joshua commands the Israelites to pursue their enemies before smiting them Joshua 10:19.

Theological Significance

The significance of H2179 is drawn from its application in moral and military contexts.

A Cowardly Attack: In Deuteronomy 25:18, the act of smiting the hindmost is portrayed as a contemptible assault on the weak and vulnerable. It is attributed to an enemy who "feared not God," marking the action as dishonorable.
A Strategic Military Maneuver: The command in Joshua 10:19 reframes the same act as a legitimate tactic of war. It is an order to secure a decisive victory by cutting off the enemy's retreat, ensuring they cannot escape after God has "delivered them into your hand."
Focus on the Vulnerable Rear: In both cases, the word highlights the strategic importance and vulnerability of a group's rearguard, whether it consists of weary stragglers or the last remnants of a fleeing army.

Summary

In summary, H2179 provides a highly specific term for attacking the rearguard of a group. Its moral and strategic weight is defined entirely by the context. It can represent either a shameful act of aggression against the feeble, as seen in Deuteronomy 25:18, or a calculated military order to prevent an enemy's escape and complete a victory, as commanded in Joshua 10:19.

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 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.

יְזַנֵּב
זִנַּבְתֶּם

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 Deuteronomy and Joshua (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Deuteronomy

Joshua

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.