a primitive root; properly, to irradiate (or shoot forth beams), i.e. to rise (as the sun); specifically, to appear (as a symptom of leprosy); arise, rise (up), as soon as it is up.
Transliteration:zârach
Pronunciation:zaw-rakh'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb זָרַח (zârach, `{{H2224}}`) is a primitive root whose core meaning revolves around the concept of "irradiating" or "shooting forth beams." This fundamental sense naturally extends to its most prevalent usage: "to rise," specifically as the sun. In this context, it describes the powerful, inevitable, and often gradual ascent of a luminous body, bringing light and dispelling darkness. The semantic range also includes the more general notion of "to appear" or "to break forth," indicating something becoming visible or evident. A specialized application of this meaning is found in the Levitical laws concerning leprosy, where זָרַח describes the *appearance* or *outbreak* of a symptom on the skin, signifying its manifestation. Thus, the word encompasses both the majestic, life-giving emergence of light and the unsettling, revealing manifestation of disease.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of זָרַח in the Hebrew Bible can be broadly categorized:
1. **The Rising of the Sun:** This is the most frequent and iconic usage.
* In narratives, it marks the passage of time and the beginning of a new day, often with significant implications. For instance, after Jacob's wrestling match, "the sun rose upon him" as he limped ([[Genesis 32:31]]), signifying a new dawn for a transformed man.
* In legal contexts, the rising sun can denote a clear, public time, as in the law concerning a thief: "If the sun has risen upon him, he shall be put to death" ([[Exodus 22:3]]), implying that a theft committed in clear daylight lacks the mitigating factor of darkness.
* Poetic and prophetic texts frequently employ the sun's rising as a metaphor for divine blessing, order, and the dispelling of chaos. [[2 Samuel 23:4]] likens a righteous ruler to "the light of the morning when the sun rises," bringing clarity and prosperity. [[Psalm 104:22]] notes that wild beasts retreat when "the sun rises," illustrating God's established order.
* Most significantly, [[Malachi 4:2]] contains a profound messianic prophecy: "But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings." Here, זָרַח is applied to a divine, redemptive figure.
2. **The Appearance/Outbreak of Leprosy:** In the book of Leviticus, זָרַח is consistently used to describe the *breaking out* or *appearing* of a skin affliction, often leprosy. This usage emphasizes the visible manifestation of the disease, which necessitates priestly examination and judgment.
* [[Leviticus 13:5]]: "If the disease has not spread in the skin... it is only a scab; and the priest shall pronounce him clean." The focus is on the initial appearance.
* [[Leviticus 13:20]]: "If the priest looks, and indeed its appearance is lower than the skin... it is a leprous disease that has broken out in the boil."
* This application highlights the revelatory aspect of זָרַח – something hidden becoming apparent, requiring discernment and action.
3. **Figurative/Metaphorical Uses:**
* Prophetic passages often use זָרַח to describe the manifestation of God's glory, light, or salvation. [[Isaiah 58:8]] promises, "Then your light shall break forth like the morning."
* Most powerfully, [[Isaiah 60:1]] declares, "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you," using זָרַח to depict the dawning of divine glory upon Zion, transforming darkness into light.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of זָרַח naturally intersects with several key biblical concepts and other Hebrew words:
* **Light and Darkness:** Directly related to אור (ʾôr, light, `{{H216}}`) and חשך (ḥōšek, darkness, `{{H2822}}`). The rising of the sun inherently involves the dispelling of darkness by light.
* **Morning and Day:** Closely associated with בקר (bōqer, morning, `{{H1242}}`) and יום (yôm, day, `{{H3117}}`), as the sun's rising initiates the day.
* **Manifestation and Revelation:** In both the context of leprosy and divine glory, זָרַח conveys the idea of something becoming visible or revealed. This connects to words signifying appearance, seeing, or making known.
* **Divine Glory and Righteousness:** In prophetic texts, particularly [[Isaiah 60:1-2]] and [[Malachi 4:2]], זָרַח is linked to כבוד (kābôd, glory, `{{H3519}}`) and צדקה (ṣĕdāqâ, righteousness, `{{H6666}}`), signifying the visible manifestation of God's character and presence.
* **Healing and Salvation:** The phrase "healing in its wings" in [[Malachi 4:2]] connects זָרַח to concepts of restoration and deliverance.
### Theological Significance
The theological implications of זָרַח are profound and multifaceted:
1. **Divine Order and Faithfulness:** The consistent and predictable rising of the sun, described by זָרַח, serves as a fundamental testament to God's unchanging order in creation and His enduring faithfulness to His covenant with humanity (cf. [[Genesis 8:22]], [[Jeremiah 31:35-36]]). It signifies the reliability of His divine administration over the cosmos.
2. **Judgment and Exposure:** The light of the rising sun can expose deeds done in darkness, bringing them to account ([[Exodus 22:3]]). Similarly, the "breaking out" of leprosy signifies a condition revealed for priestly judgment and the potential for isolation, highlighting God's holiness and the need for purity.
3. **Hope, New Beginnings, and Divine Favor:** The dawn, ushered in by the rising sun, is a powerful universal symbol of hope, new opportunities, and the end of darkness and despair. This metaphor is powerfully appropriated in prophetic declarations, where God's light "breaks forth" for His people ([[Isaiah 58:8]]), signifying restoration, favor, and the dawning of a new era of blessing.
4. **Messianic Expectation and Christological Fulfillment:** The pinnacle of זָרַח's theological significance is found in [[Malachi 4:2]], where the "Sun of Righteousness" (שמש צדקה) is prophesied to "rise" (וזרחה) with healing in its wings. This points directly to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who embodies perfect righteousness and brings spiritual and physical healing. He is the true light that illuminates all things, dispelling the darkness of sin and death, and inaugurating the new covenant age. His advent is the ultimate "rising" that brings salvation to the world.
5. **Theophany and Divine Presence:** When the Lord's glory is said to "rise" upon Zion ([[Isaiah 60:2]]), it evokes a sense of overwhelming divine manifestation, where God's presence becomes powerfully evident and transformative, akin to the overwhelming light of the sun.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb זָרַח (zârach, `{{H2224}}`) fundamentally denotes "to irradiate" or "to shoot forth beams," most commonly expressed as the "rising of the sun." This primary meaning underscores themes of light, the dawning of a new day, and the consistent order of creation, testifying to God's enduring faithfulness. In a specific context, it describes the "breaking out" or "appearing" of a symptom, particularly leprosy, emphasizing the manifestation of a condition for discernment and judgment. Theologically, זָרַח carries profound weight, symbolizing divine order, the exposure of hidden deeds, and the advent of hope and new beginnings. Its most significant application is found in the Messianic prophecy of [[Malachi 4:2]], where the "Sun of Righteousness" is foretold to "rise" with healing, pointing to Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of light, truth, and redemption, who dispels spiritual darkness and brings life. Across its various uses, זָרַח consistently highlights the power of emergence, visibility, and divine illumination.
TRV