The Hebrew word zirmâh, represented by H2231, is a term for a gushing of fluid (semen); issue. As the feminine form of a word meaning "a gushing," it appears 2 times across 1 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage is highly specific and confined to a single, powerful prophetic image.
The sole context for H2231 is in the prophet Ezekiel's allegory of the two unfaithful sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, who represent Samaria and Jerusalem. In a moment of stark condemnation, the prophet describes Aholibah's lustful pursuit of foreign alliances, stating, "For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses" Ezekiel 23:20. Here, zirmâh is used to convey a sense of unrestrained and vulgar passion, likening Judah's spiritual adultery to base, animalistic behavior.
The meaning of H2231 is intensified by the surrounding words in its only appearance:
- H5689 ʻăgab (to love (sensually); dote, lover): This verb sets the stage, describing the obsessive and illicit desire that defines the spiritual unfaithfulness being condemned Ezekiel 23:20. The doting is directed at forbidden partners.
- H6370 pîylegesh (a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour): This identifies the objects of the illicit desire. While often meaning a concubine, here it is used in its masculine form for "paramours" Ezekiel 23:20.
- H1320 bâsâr (flesh; by extension, body, person): This word is used to describe the paramours in a purely physical and carnal sense, reducing them to their "flesh" as part of a crude comparison Ezekiel 23:20.
- H2543 chămôwr (a male ass): The flesh of the paramours is compared to that of an ass, a comparison used to emphasize the gross and shameless nature of the lust Ezekiel 23:20.
- H5483 çûwç (a horse): The issue (zirmâh) is directly likened to that of a horse, an animal often associated with strength and passion, to depict the immense and uncontrolled nature of the sin.
The theological weight of H2231 is derived entirely from its metaphorical use in prophecy.
- Symbol of Extreme Sin: The word is employed by Ezekiel to create a shocking and offensive image. This is intentional, designed to confront Judah with the true nature of its idolatry and reliance on foreign powers in the eyes of God.
- Condemnation of Unrestrained Passion: By linking the issue to horses H5483 and the paramours' flesh H1320 to asses H2543, the prophecy condemns a desire that has become animalistic and devoid of covenant faithfulness. The act of "doting" H5689 is shown to lead to this debased state.
- Justification for Judgment: The use of such visceral language serves to justify the severity of the divine judgment prophesied against Jerusalem. The graphic nature of the sin calls for an equally stark response from a holy God.
In summary, H2231 is a rare and highly specific term. It is not used for general discussion but is reserved for a single, potent metaphor in Ezekiel 23:20. Its purpose is to illustrate the depths of spiritual adultery by using the graphic language of unrestrained physical lust. The word's meaning is inseparable from its context, serving as a key component in one of scripture's most jarring prophetic condemnations.
TRV