Word Study for H2209 (זִקְנָה)

ziqnâh /zik-naw'/ Ask about this word

Rootfeminine of זָקֵן

Meaningold age

KJV usageold (age).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ziqnâh — 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 ziqnâh, represented by H2209, is the feminine term for old age. It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses in the Bible. This word specifically refers to the later period of a person's life, a time often characterized by both physical vulnerability and a unique opportunity to experience God's enduring faithfulness.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H2209 is used to mark a significant, and often challenging, phase of life. It is presented as a time of potential weakness, as the psalmist pleads with God, "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth" Psalms 71:9. This vulnerability is also seen in the lives of kings, where Solomon's heart was turned away from God when he was old 1 Kings 11:4, and King Asa became diseased in his feet in his old age 1 Kings 15:23. In contrast, God promises to sustain His people through this stage, declaring, "And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you" Isaiah 46:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to frame the concept of old age and its associated experiences:

H7872 sêybâh (old age; gray hairs): This term, often used alongside H2209, describes the physical signs of aging. God's promise to carry His people extends "to your old age" and "to hoar hairs" Isaiah 46:4, linking the life stage with its visible evidence.
H3581 kôach (vigor, force, strength): This word represents the physical vitality that diminishes in old age. The psalmist's fear of abandonment is tied directly to when his strength fails in his old age Psalms 71:9.
H5445 çâbal (to carry, be burdensome): This verb highlights God's response to the frailty of old age. While human strength fades, God promises that He Himself will carry His people through this time Isaiah 46:4.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H2209 revolves around the contrast between human frailty and divine faithfulness.

A Time of Vulnerability: Old age is depicted as a period where physical strength fails Psalms 71:9 and disease can take hold 1 Kings 15:23, leading to a natural fear of being forsaken.
A Test of Spiritual Endurance: The final stage of life can be a test of one's devotion. Solomon, despite his wisdom, failed this test when his heart turned from the LORD in his old age 1 Kings 11:4.
A Stage for God's Sustaining Power: The weakness of old age provides the backdrop for God's strength to be revealed. The psalmist prays to continue showing God's power Psalms 71:18, and God explicitly promises to carry and deliver His people through their final years Isaiah 46:4.

Summary

In summary, H2209 defines the season of old age as a complex period in the biblical narrative. It is realistically portrayed as a time of diminishing human strength and potential spiritual decline. More profoundly, it serves as a crucial time for God to demonstrate His unwavering faithfulness, proving that His commitment to His people does not wane even when their own power and vitality do.

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 6 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.

זִקְנָה
זִקְנָתָ

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 6 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Kings and Psalms (2 verses each); never once in the other 35.

Genesis

1 Kings

Psalms

Isaiah

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.