English · KJV
H2221

זֵרוּעַ

zêrûwaʻ /zay-roo'-ah/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom זָרַע
Meaningsomething sown, i.e. a plant
KJV usagesowing, thing that is sown.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zêrûwaʻ — 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 zêrûwaʻ, represented by H2221, refers to something sown or a plant. Derived from the root verb zâraʻ H2232, meaning "to sow," it appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses. Its meaning encompasses both the act of sowing and the resulting plant that is sown.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H2221 demonstrate its application in both literal and figurative contexts. In Leviticus, it is used in a legal sense concerning ritual purity, where a "sowing H2221 seed H2233" remains clean even if a carcase H5038 falls upon it Leviticus 11:37. In contrast, Isaiah employs the term poetically, comparing the way a garden H1593 causes "the things that are sown H2221" to spring forth H6779 with how the Lord H136 GOD H3069 will cause righteousness and praise to flourish Isaiah 61:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the agricultural and theological imagery associated with H2221:

  • H2232 zâraʻ: This is the primitive root meaning to sow. It is used both literally, as when Isaac "sowed H2232 in that land" Genesis 26:12, and figuratively, as in the command to "Sow H2232 to yourselves in righteousness H6666" Hosea 10:12.
  • H2233 zeraʻ: This word for seed or posterity appears alongside H2221 in Leviticus 11:37. It is foundational to promises of descendants and spiritual lineage, such as the promise concerning the "seed H2233" of the woman in Genesis 3:15.
  • H6779 tsâmach: Meaning to sprout or spring forth, this verb describes the result of what is sown. In Isaiah 61:11, it is used for both the plants in a garden and for the righteousness God causes to emerge.
  • H6780 tsemach: This noun for a bud or branch is used in parallel with H2221 in Isaiah 61:11. It often carries messianic weight, as when God promises to raise up a righteous "Branch H6780" to David Jeremiah 23:5.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2221 is seen in its two distinct applications.

  • Principle of Enduring Life: Leviticus 11:37 establishes a legal principle where a "sowing H2221 seed H2233" is not defiled by contact with a carcase H5038, suggesting a divine protection over the potential for life contained within the seed.
  • Analogy of Divine Action: In Isaiah 61:11, the natural process of "the things that are sown H2221" sprouting in a garden H1593 becomes a powerful metaphor for the certainty and visibility of God's redemptive work.
  • Source of Spiritual Fruit: The word is used figuratively to illustrate how the Lord H136 GOD H3069 will cause righteousness H6666 and praise H8416 to "spring forth H6779" before all nations H1471, linking the agricultural act to the spiritual harvest God produces.

Summary

In summary, zêrûwaʻ H2221, though rare, provides a specific and potent image. It moves from a literal designation for "sowing seed" within Mosaic law to a powerful prophetic metaphor. It illustrates how God's work of bringing forth righteousness and praise is as certain and natural as a plant springing from the earth, grounding abstract theological promises in the tangible world of agriculture.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • זֵּרֹעִים
  • זֵרוּעֶי
  • זֵרוּעַ

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.

H2232 זָרַע a primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify; bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield. H2233 זֶרַע from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), so H5038 נְבֵלָה from נָבֵל; a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol; (de H1593 גַּנָּה feminine of גַּן; a garden; garden. H6779 צָמַח a primitive root; to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); bear, bring forth, (cause to, make to) H136 אֲדֹנָי an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord.

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 Leviticus and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Leviticus
1
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.