זוּר (zur)
zur
to crush
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb zur means to press, squeeze, or crush something with force. In the Old Testament, it describes the physical act of compressing materials, such as pressing grapes for wine or squeezing out liquid from a wound. The word carries a sense of intense pressure that alters the state of what is being handled.
Its usage often highlights the result of this pressure: extraction or closure. For instance, in Job 29:6, it describes the flow of oil, implying a rich, abundant pressing. In Isaiah 63:3, it appears in the context of treading the winepress, where the force applied crushes the fruit to release its juice. The sources also note a specific application to closing up a wound, suggesting that pressure can be used to seal or stop bleeding.
This word is relatively rare, appearing only three times in Scripture. Its concentration in books like Judges, Job, and Isaiah suggests it was used to describe moments of significant physical action or consequence. Translators typically render it as "crush" or "press," capturing the tangible force involved in these biblical scenes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zur describes the intense pressure required to extract what is hidden inside. Whether it is wringing dew from a fleece in Judges or treading grapes for wine, this action transforms the material through force. It reminds us that God often works in ways that involve deep engagement with our circumstances, bringing forth something new from what was previously whole but unopened.
In Isaiah, the image shifts to wounds that have not been closed or bandaged. Here, the lack of pressure and care leaves the body open and vulnerable. This contrast highlights the healing nature of God’s touch. Where human efforts fail to seal our hurts, divine compassion provides the restorative pressure that brings wholeness.
For your faith life, this word invites trust in a God who knows how to bring forth oil from the olive and dew from the fleece. It assures you that even when you feel pressed or wounded, He is the one who can extract beauty from brokenness and seal your wounds with peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they have been pressed out1×
- it will crush/ it1×
- and/ he squeezed out1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּזוּרֶ֑/הָ1×
- זֹ֙רוּ֙1×
- וַ/יָּ֖זַר1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 6:38
It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
This verse shows the word used for wringing dew from a fleece, illustrating God's patience in answering Gideon's request through a tangible, physical sign.
-
Job 39:15
and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.
Here the word describes the foot crushing eggs, highlighting the vulnerability of creation and the wildness that exists outside human control.
-
Isaiah 1:6
From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven’t been closed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.
The term appears in a list of neglected wounds, emphasizing the absence of healing care and the resulting state of open injury.