זְהַר (ze.har)
ze.har
to take heed
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb zehar appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Ezra 4:22. In this specific context, it carries the sense of being on guard or taking heed to avoid a particular outcome. The text uses it to instruct officials to ensure that the work on the Jerusalem temple walls and city is halted, warning them against allowing any further construction.
While its usage here is singular and situational, the root concept points to a state of alertness or caution. It is not merely about seeing something, but about recognizing a danger or prohibition and responding with care. This single instance highlights how Hebrew often uses concise verbs to convey specific legal or administrative warnings within historical narratives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zehar appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Ezra 4:22. It carries the sense of being on guard or taking heed to avoid a particular outcome. The text uses it to instruct officials to ensure that the work on the Jerusalem temple walls and city is halted, warning them against allowing any further construction.
While its usage here is singular and situational, the root concept points to a state of alertness or caution. It is not merely about seeing something, but about recognizing a danger or prohibition and responding with care. This single instance highlights how Hebrew often uses concise verbs to convey specific legal or administrative warnings within historical narratives.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God’s plans unfold in His timing. When we feel urged to push forward against obstacles, zehar invites us to pause and discern whether we are acting in alignment with divine instruction. It encourages a posture of attentive obedience, trusting that God’s timing is perfect even when the path seems blocked.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ cautious1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/זְהִירִ֥ין1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:22
Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
This verse uses zehar to issue a direct warning against slackness in halting temple construction, emphasizing the seriousness of obeying royal decree.