זוּן (zun)
zun
to feed
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb zun means to feed or nourish, appearing only once in the Old Testament within Jeremiah 5:8. In this specific context, it takes the Hophal form, which renders the meaning "to be well-fed." The prophet uses this image to describe horses that are fat and satisfied, drawing a sharp contrast between their physical abundance and the moral emptiness of the people they represent.
This single occurrence carries significant weight because it serves as a metaphor for spiritual adultery. The well-fed horses symbolize Judah’s leaders and inhabitants, who enjoyed prosperity while ignoring justice and faithfulness. The word highlights not just the act of eating, but the resulting state of being sated, which in Jeremiah’s eyes masks a deeper corruption.
Although the related Pual form appears in the same verse with uncertain meaning, the Hophal usage is clear and vivid. Translators typically capture this sense with phrases like "well-fed" or "fatted," preserving the original image of physical comfort that belies spiritual decay. This rare word reminds readers that material satisfaction does not guarantee moral integrity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zun appears in Jeremiah 5:8 to describe horses that are well-fed and roaming freely. This image highlights a stark contrast between physical comfort and spiritual emptiness. The people of Judah enjoyed prosperity, yet their hearts were far from God.
Material blessings do not guarantee moral integrity. True faithfulness requires more than just full bellies; it demands justice and love for our neighbors. When we focus only on our own satisfaction, we risk ignoring the needs of others and the call to live righteously.
This reminder encourages us to examine where our true nourishment comes from. May we seek a deeper connection with God that transforms our lives and leads us to care for those around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- well fed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְיֻזָּנִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
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Jeremiah 5:8
They were as fed horses roaming at large. Everyone neighed after his neighbor’s wife.
The Hophal form of zun describes horses as 'fed,' symbolizing Judah's leaders who were physically satisfied but morally corrupt.