English · KJV
H2194

זָעַם

zâʻam /zaw-am'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningproperly, to foam at the mouth, i.e. to be enraged
KJV usageabhor, abominable, (be) angry, defy, (have) indignation.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zâʻam — 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 zâʻam, represented by H2194, denotes a powerful form of rage and revulsion. Its primitive root suggests foaming at the mouth, conveying an intense state of being enraged. It is translated as to abhor, make abominable, be angry, defy, or have indignation. This term appears 12 times across 11 unique verses, highlighting its use in specific and weighty contexts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H2194 is frequently used to describe God's righteous anger. The LORD has indignation against His enemies Isaiah 66:14 and against nations like Edom, which are called "The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever" Malachi 1:4. This divine anger is also directed at the wicked on a daily basis Psalms 7:11 and at unjust practices, such as a "scant measure that is abominable" Micah 6:10. The word also expresses human defiance, as when Balak commands Balaam to defy Israel Numbers 23:7, an act Balaam finds impossible because the LORD has not defied them Numbers 23:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and consequences of the indignation expressed by H2194:

  • H341 ʼôyêb (enemy, foe): This word identifies the target of divine wrath. God's hand is known toward His servants, but His indignation is directed toward his enemies Isaiah 66:14.
  • H7563 râshâʻ (wicked (man)): This term describes those who are morally wrong and often the subject of God's anger. It is stated that God is angry H2194 with the wicked every day Psalms 7:11.
  • H7564 rishʻâh (wickedness): This noun specifies the moral wrong that provokes indignation. In Malachi, Edom is labeled "The border of wickedness" H7564 in the same passage where God's eternal indignation H2194 is declared against them Malachi 1:4.
  • H5307 nâphal (to fall): This verb often illustrates the consequence of being abhorred by the Lord. The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit, and "he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein" Proverbs 22:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2194 is significant, revealing key aspects of divine justice and human accountability.

  • Divine Indignation against Wickedness: The word is a primary descriptor of God's holy wrath. This indignation is not arbitrary but is consistently directed at enemies Isaiah 66:14, the wicked Psalms 7:11, and those who defy His covenant Daniel 11:30, demonstrating a divine response to sin.
  • The Consequences of Being Abhorred: To be the object of God's indignation leads to judgment. This is seen when the people against whom God has indignation are subject to being thrown down Malachi 1:4, and those He has abhorred are destined to fall Proverbs 22:14.
  • A Standard for Moral Action: The term provides a moral compass for humanity. While Balaam is wrongly asked to defy Israel Numbers 23:7, nations are expected to righteously abhor anyone who would call a wicked person righteous Proverbs 24:24, reflecting a divine standard of justice.

Summary

In summary, H2194 is a term that conveys more than simple anger; it signifies a deep-seated indignation and abhorrence rooted in a response to wickedness. It is used to characterize God's righteous judgment against sin and His enemies, while also serving as a benchmark for human moral responses. Whether describing divine wrath, human defiance, or an abominable act, zâʻam points to the serious nature of opposing God's holy character and commands.

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 12 occurrences, inflected in 10 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.

  • זָעַם
  • זָעַם
  • נִזְעָמִים
  • זֹעֲמָ
  • אֶזְעֹם
  • יִזְעָמוּ
  • זְעוּמָה
  • זְעוּם
  • זֹעֵם
  • זָעַמְתָּה

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H341 אֹיֵב or (fully) אוֹיֵב; active participle of אָיַב; hating; an adversary; enemy, foe. H7563 רָשָׁע from רָשַׁע; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), tha H7564 רִשְׁעָה feminine of רֶשַׁע; wrong (especially moral); fault, wickedly(-ness). H5307 נָפַל a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be acc

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 11 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (3 verses); never once in the other 31.

2
Numbers
1
Psalms
3
Proverbs
1
Isaiah
1
Daniel
1
Micah
1
Zechariah
1
Malachi

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.