from זוּעַ (in the sense of יֶזַע); perspiration; sweat.
Transliteration:zêʻâh
Pronunciation:zay-aw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) denotes "perspiration" or "sweat." Its etymology is traced to the root *zûaʿ* (זוּעַ), which primarily signifies "trembling" or "shaking." However, the definition explicitly clarifies that *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) is used "in the sense of יֶזַע," a related term also associated with sweating or dripping. Thus, the semantic range of *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) is narrow and precise, referring exclusively to the bodily fluid exuded through the skin, typically as a result of physical exertion, heat, or intense emotional distress. It describes the tangible manifestation of physical effort or strain.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, yet its singular occurrence carries profound theological weight.
* **[[Genesis 3:19]]**: "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
This verse is part of God's curse upon Adam following the disobedience in the Garden of Eden. The phrase "by the sweat of your face" (בְּזֵעַת אַפֶּיךָ) signifies a radical transformation in the nature of human labor. Prior to the Fall, work was presented as a joyful and fulfilling act of stewardship ([[Genesis 2:15]]). Post-Fall, it becomes a laborious struggle, fraught with difficulty and physical exertion. The necessity of acquiring sustenance through "sweat" directly links human effort with the punitive consequences of sin, indicating that the earth itself would now resist humanity's efforts, yielding its produce only through arduous toil. This statement establishes a fundamental reality of human existence in a fallen world: the acquisition of basic necessities would now be marked by hardship and physical strain, a direct contrast to the effortless provision of Eden.
### Related Words & Concepts
While *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) itself has a singular occurrence, its meaning is deeply intertwined with several other biblical concepts and terms:
* ***ʿāmāl* (עָמָל) `{{H5999}}`**: This term denotes "toil," "labor," "trouble," or "hardship." The "sweat of your face" in [[Genesis 3:19]] is the physical manifestation and consequence of such *ʿāmāl*.
* ***yāgaʿ* (יָגַע) `{{H3021}}`**: Meaning "to grow weary," "to toil," or "to labor," this verb describes the physical action that results in *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`).
* **Curse (אָרַר - *ʾārar* `{{H779}}`)**: The context of *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) is God's curse upon Adam and, by extension, the ground. The sweat is a direct outcome of this divine decree.
* **Mortality (עָפָר - *ʿāphār* `{{H6083}}`)**: The phrase immediately following the mention of sweat – "till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return" – inextricably links the toil of life with the inevitability of death. Sweat becomes a symbol of the finite and mortal nature of human existence under the curse.
* **Bread (לֶחֶם - *leḥem* `{{H3899}}`)**: The object of the toil, "bread," highlights the new, difficult relationship between humanity and the earth for sustenance.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) carries immense theological weight as a pivotal marker in the biblical narrative of creation and fall.
* **Consequence of the Fall**: The most profound theological significance of *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) lies in its role as a tangible symbol of the curse pronounced in [[Genesis 3]]. It transforms human labor from a joyous and effortless stewardship into a burdensome, sweat-inducing struggle. This signifies the profound disruption of the original created order and the entry of hardship into human experience due to sin.
* **The Nature of Post-Fall Labor**: *Zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) establishes the reality of human toil as a constant companion in a fallen world. It underscores that sustenance and progress would no longer come easily but would require strenuous effort, reflecting the broken relationship between humanity and the ground.
* **Human Mortality and Dependence**: The immediate juxtaposition of "sweat" with "returning to the ground" ([[Genesis 3:19]]) links the arduousness of life to the certainty of death. This emphasizes humanity's fragile and temporary existence. Paradoxically, this imposed toil also subtly reinforces humanity's ongoing dependence on God for strength and provision, even as work becomes difficult.
* **Anticipation of Redemption**: While *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) speaks of the curse, it also implicitly points towards the need for redemption. The New Testament offers a powerful theological echo in [[Luke 22:44]], where Christ's "sweat became like great drops of blood" in Gethsemane. This profound suffering, culminating in the cross, represents the ultimate reversal of the curse of toil and death, as Christ's agony redeems the sweat of Adam, offering a path to restoration and rest from the curse.
### Summary
The Hebrew word *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`), meaning "perspiration" or "sweat," appears but once in the biblical text, yet it is laden with profound theological significance. Found in [[Genesis 3:19]], it serves as a powerful and enduring symbol of the consequences of the Fall. It marks the transition from effortless provision to arduous toil, signifying that human sustenance in a fallen world would be acquired "by the sweat of your face." Theologically, *zêʻâh* (`{{H2188}}`) underscores the punitive nature of sin, the new reality of human labor as a struggle against a resistant creation, and the intrinsic link between this toil and human mortality. As a perpetual reminder of the broken relationship between humanity, the earth, and God, it implicitly points to the necessity of divine redemption to overcome the curse it represents.
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