זָלַל (za.lal)
za.lal
to shake; be vile
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb zalal carries a vivid physical image: to shake or tremble. In the Old Testament, this literal sense appears when describing the earth quaking or people trembling in fear. However, its most frequent usage shifts from physical movement to moral weight, meaning to be light, worthless, or insignificant. This metaphorical "lightness" suggests something that lacks substance or value, easily dismissed or shaken off.
When applied to behavior, zalal describes squandering or being lavish with what should be treated carefully. It paints a picture of someone who treats precious resources—whether wealth, wisdom, or life itself—with careless disregard. The word appears in Proverbs and Lamentations to critique those who waste their inheritance or mock divine instruction, highlighting a heart that has lost its sense of gravity.
The connection between shaking and worthlessness is striking. Just as something unstable cannot stand firm, a person who "shakes" off responsibility reveals a character that is fundamentally light and unreliable. Translators often render this as "squander," "vile," or "make light of," depending on context. This nuance warns against the danger of treating serious matters with casual indifference, urging readers to recognize what truly has weight in their lives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zalal paints a picture of something lacking weight or stability. Literally it means to shake, but in Scripture it often describes moral lightness—treating what is sacred as if it has no value at all. When the text calls someone gluttonous or vile, it points to a heart that has lost its sense of gravity. This is not just about eating too much; it is about squandering precious gifts with careless disregard.
For your faith life, this word serves as a gentle warning against trivializing God’s provision. Whether it is wealth, wisdom, or time, zalal reminds us that what we treat lightly often becomes worthless to us. The Bible urges us to hold fast to what endures rather than chasing after fleeting pleasures that leave us empty.
Instead of shaking off responsibility, we are called to stand firm in truth. By valuing what God has given, we cultivate a character that is stable and reliable. This shift from lightness to weight brings peace and purpose to our daily walk with the Lord.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- gluttons1×
- from/ [the] worthless1×
- despised1×
- and/ a glutton1×
- among/ gluttons of1×
- a glutton1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/זּוֹלֵ֖ל1×
- זוֹלֵלָֽה\׃\ \ס1×
- זוֹלֵ֖ל1×
- זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים1×
- וְ֭/זוֹלֵל1×
- בְּ/זֹלֲלֵ֖י1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 21:20
They shall tell the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”
This verse uses the concept of zalal to describe a son whose reckless lifestyle makes him unfit for inheritance, showing how moral lightness leads to social disgrace.
-
Proverbs 23:21
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Here the word highlights the inevitable poverty that comes from treating food and drink with excessive indulgence rather than moderation.
-
Jeremiah 15:19
Therefore Yahweh says, “If you return, then I will bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you take out the precious from the vile, you will be as my mouth. They will return to you, but you will not return to them.
In this prophetic call, zalal describes the worthless idols or false teachings that must be separated from the precious truth of God's word.