זָוִית (za.vit)
za.vit
corner
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun za.vit refers to a corner, specifically the point where two walls or boundaries meet. It appears in only two verses in the Old Testament, making it a rare word in biblical literature. Its primary sense is spatial and physical, denoting the outermost edge of a structure or a defined area.
Lexical sources classify this term as late Hebrew, suggesting it entered common usage during the later periods of biblical writing. While it shares the general concept of an angle with other words, za.vit emphasizes the specific junction of sides. In its few occurrences, such as in Psalm 118:22 and Zechariah 10:4, it functions as a concrete descriptor of location rather than a metaphor for abstract concepts.
The word’s scarcity highlights its straightforward utility. Translators typically render it simply as "corner" without needing to distinguish between nuanced shades of meaning found in more common Hebrew vocabulary. Its presence in texts like Zechariah helps ground prophetic imagery in tangible, architectural reality, reminding readers that divine promises often involve real places and physical boundaries.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for corner appears in Scripture to describe where boundaries meet. In Zechariah, it paints a picture of an altar's corners filled with wine. This image connects divine provision to physical places we can see and touch. God’s promises are not abstract ideas but realities grounded in the world He made.
When you read about corners, think of stability and completeness. A corner holds walls together; it defines a space. In your life, you may feel like you are at a junction or edge. This word reminds us that God is present in every boundary and every limit. He does not leave the edges undefined.
Consider how this simple term grounds our faith. It points to a God who cares about details and structures. You can trust Him with the parts of your life that feel like corners—places of transition or definition. He is there, holding things together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like/ [the] corners of1×
- [will be] like/ corners1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּ/זָוִיּ֖וֹת1×
- כְ/זָוִיֹּ֑ת1×
Key Verses
-
Zechariah 9:15
Yahweh of Armies will defend them. They will destroy and overcome with sling stones. They will drink, and roar as through wine. They will be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar.
This verse uses the word to describe the corners of the altar, linking divine defense and provision to a tangible sacred object.