from זָעַף; anger; indignation, rage(-ing), wrath.
Transliteration:zaʻaph
Pronunciation:zah'-af
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun H2197 (זַעַף, *zaʻaph*) is derived from the verb H2196 (זָעַף, *zaʻaph*), meaning "to be angry," "to be enraged," or "to storm." As a noun, H2197 describes a state of intense, often turbulent, emotional displeasure. Its semantic range encompasses anger, indignation, rage, and wrath, frequently carrying connotations of a sudden, violent outburst or a tempestuous state, much like a storm. Unlike some other terms for anger, H2197 often emphasizes the tumultuous and agitated nature of the emotion rather than a slow-burning resentment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of H2197 in the Hebrew Bible are few but significant, consistently illustrating its meaning as intense agitation or wrath.
* In [[2 Chronicles 26:19]], the term describes King Uzziah's furious rage: "Then Uzziah was enraged (וַיִּזְעַף, verb H2196), and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was enraged (בְּזַעְפּוֹ, noun H2197) with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the Lord." Here, H2197 highlights the king's uncontrolled and destructive anger directed at the priests who confronted his transgression, immediately preceding his divine punishment.
* The book of Jonah provides two key instances. In [[Jonah 1:15]], following Jonah's being cast into the sea, "the sea ceased from its raging (מִזַּעְפּוֹ)." Here, H2197 vividly portrays the violent, storm-tossed nature of the sea, which was a direct manifestation of God's wrath against Jonah. The cessation of its "raging" signifies the appeasement of divine judgment.
* Later, in [[Jonah 4:6]], the term describes Jonah's intense displeasure: "And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head to deliver him from his grief (מִזַּעֲפֹו)." While translated as "grief" or "vexation," the underlying Hebrew H2197 points to Jonah's deep, agitated anger over the loss of the plant, revealing his self-centeredness and spiritual immaturity. This is further emphasized by God's direct question in [[Jonah 4:9]], "Is it right for you to be angry (הַהֵיטֵב הֲרָעַף לְךָ, verb H2196) about the plant?"
These contexts consistently depict H2197 as a powerful, often destructive, state of anger or agitation, whether in natural phenomena or human emotion.
### Related Words & Concepts
H2197 (זַעַף) belongs to a rich vocabulary for anger in Hebrew, each with nuanced distinctions.
* **`{{H639}}` (אַף, *ʼaph*)**: Literally "nose," but idiomatically "anger," often referring to a slow-burning or sustained wrath, frequently divine.
* **`{{H2734}}` (חֵמָה, *ḥemah*)**: "Heat" or "fury," often describing intense, burning anger, particularly divine wrath.
* **`{{H2740}}` (חָרֹון, *ḥaron*)**: Similar to `{{H2734}}`, denoting a "burning" or "fierce" anger.
* **`{{H7110}}` (קֶצֶף, *qetsef*)**: "Indignation" or "outburst," often divine, implying a breaking forth or sudden display of wrath.
While these terms overlap, H2197 (זַעַף) often emphasizes the turbulent, stormy, or sudden nature of the wrath, akin to a tempest. It can describe both human emotion and natural phenomena (like the raging sea), highlighting its disruptive and agitated quality. Its root suggests a sense of being "stormy" or "agitated," setting it apart in its emphasis on the outward manifestation of inner turmoil.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H2197 (זַעַף) is primarily seen in its portrayal of human anger and, by extension, the powerful manifestation of divine displeasure.
* **Human Anger:** In instances like Uzziah's H2197 in [[2 Chronicles 26:19]] and Jonah's H2197 in [[Jonah 4:6]], the term consistently depicts human anger as problematic, irrational, and leading to negative consequences. Uzziah's rage directly precedes his divine judgment, while Jonah's vexation highlights his spiritual immaturity and self-centeredness in contrast to God's boundless compassion. Human H2197 is thus presented as a destructive force, indicative of a lack of self-control and often a rejection of divine wisdom or will.
* **Divine Manifestation:** While H2197 is not directly applied to God's wrath in the same way `{{H2734}}` or `{{H639}}` might be, the "raging" of the sea in [[Jonah 1:15]] is undeniably a physical manifestation of God's intense displeasure. The sea's H2197 serves as a powerful metaphor for the overwhelming and uncontrollable nature of divine judgment when provoked. This suggests that divine wrath, when expressed, can be as turbulent and formidable as a tempest.
### Summary
H2197 (זַעַף, *zaʻaph*) denotes a state of intense, turbulent anger, rage, or indignation, often characterized by a stormy or sudden quality. Its biblical occurrences illustrate this meaning vividly, describing both the tumultuous fury of the sea as a manifestation of divine displeasure in [[Jonah 1:15]], and the destructive, irrational anger of humans, such as King Uzziah in [[2 Chronicles 26:19]] and Jonah's vexation in [[Jonah 4:6]]. Theologically, H2197 underscores the perilous nature of human wrath, which leads to negative consequences and reveals spiritual failings. While not a primary descriptor for God's anger, its use in relation to the storm in Jonah powerfully conveys the overwhelming and formidable nature of divine judgment.
TRV