זַךְ (zakh)
zakh
pure
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word zakh describes something that is pure, clean, or clear. In its most literal sense, it refers to physical purity, such as clean water or unblemished materials used in worship. However, the texts frequently apply it to moral and spiritual states, describing a person who is righteous or innocent of guilt. This usage appears prominently in books like Job and Proverbs, where characters appeal to their integrity before God.
A key feature of this word is its contrast with impurity or corruption. When Job argues for his own innocence (Job 9:20; 16:17), he uses zakh to claim that his conduct has not been tainted by deceit or wickedness. The term implies a transparency of character, where one’s inner life matches their outward actions. It is not merely about ritual cleanliness but about a fundamental uprightness that stands firm under scrutiny.
Translators often render zakh as "pure," "clean," or "innocent" depending on the context. In Leviticus, it may describe physical objects or substances, while in wisdom literature, it points to ethical integrity. The word carries a sense of clarity and lack of mixture, suggesting that purity involves being free from contamination, whether physical or moral.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word zakh describes a state of being free from mixture or contamination. In the Old Testament, it often refers to physical purity, such as the clear olive oil used for the temple lamps or the unblemished materials in worship. This literal sense points to something whole and undivided, lacking any hidden impurities.
Beyond ritual objects, zakh applies to the human heart. When Job speaks of his prayer being pure, he is not claiming perfection but integrity—a life where inner motives align with outward actions. It suggests a transparency before God, where one’s conduct stands firm under scrutiny without deceit or hidden agendas.
This word reminds us that true purity involves both external obedience and internal honesty. While we may feel our ways are clean in our own eyes, as Proverbs notes, God weighs the motives. We can trust that He sees beyond surface appearances to the core of who we are, inviting us toward a life of consistent integrity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- pure4×
- [is] pure3×
- [are] pure2×
- and/ a pure [person]1×
- [am] pure1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- זָ֛ךְ2×
- זַכָּ֑ה2×
- זַ֥ךְ2×
- זַ֣ךְ2×
- זַכָּֽה\׃1×
- זַ֖ךְ1×
- וְ֝/זַ֗ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Job 16:17
although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Job uses zakh here to describe his prayer as uncorrupted by violence, asserting his moral innocence before God despite his suffering.
-
Proverbs 20:11
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
This verse highlights that even a child’s character is revealed through their actions, specifically whether their work is pure and right.
-
Exodus 27:20
“You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.
The command for pure olive oil emphasizes the need for clarity and lack of mixture in the worship provided to God.