זֶ֫בַח (ze.vach)

The name Zebah, meaning “sacrifice,” appears in the Old Testament as one of two Midianite kings who led a massive invasion against Israel during the time of the judges. The biblical narrative identifies him alongside his partner Oreb, describing them as rulers who had devastated the land before being defeated by Gideon and his small force (Judges 8:5–21).

While the word itself denotes an offering or sacrifice, its use here is strictly onomastic, serving as a proper name rather than a theological term. The sources do not suggest a deeper symbolic meaning for the king’s name in this context, but simply record it as part of the historical account of Gideon’s victory over the Midianite coalition.

This brief lexical entry highlights how common Hebrew words often appear in unexpected contexts within Scripture. In this case, the term for sacrifice is attached to the names of enemy leaders, marking a specific historical moment rather than conveying religious instruction about ritual practice.