זָבַד (za.vad)
za.vad
to endow
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb zabad means to give or bestow something as a gift. It carries the sense of endowing someone with a benefit or possession, often implying a generous act from one party to another.
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Genesis 30:20. The text uses it to describe how God gave Leah daughters, specifically noting that He endowed her with honor or children. This single instance highlights its use for bestowing significant blessings or family lineage rather than trivial items.
Because it is so rare, zabad does not have a wide range of nuances in Scripture. Translators typically render it as "endowed" or "bestowed," capturing the formal and gracious nature of the gift described in the narrative of Jacob’s family.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb zabad appears just once in Scripture, found in Genesis 30:20. Leah uses it to describe how God gave her a good dowry through the birth of her sixth son. This rare word captures the act of bestowing a significant blessing, showing that God actively endows His people with honor and family lineage.
When you face seasons of waiting or uncertainty, this passage reminds you that God’s gifts are purposeful. He does not leave us empty-handed but provides what we need for our journey. His blessings often come in the form of relationships and peace, strengthening our bonds with those around us.
May you rest in the assurance that God sees your efforts and responds with grace. His generosity is not random but tailored to your life’s needs. Trust that He continues to bestow goodness upon you, even when the path ahead seems unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he has endowed/ me1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- זְבָדַ֨/נִי1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 30:20
Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons.” She named him Zebulun.
Leah uses this rare verb to declare that God actively endowed her with a good dowry through the birth of her sixth son, Zebulun.