זְמָ֑ן (ze.man)
ze.man
time
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun zeman refers to a specific, appointed time rather than general duration. In the biblical text, it denotes a set occasion or a fixed point in history when something is meant to happen. This usage appears in books like Esther and Ecclesiastes, where the timing of events carries significant weight.
Its meaning aligns closely with the Aramaic equivalent zeman (H2166), reflecting a linguistic shift common in later biblical Hebrew. The word emphasizes divine or royal decree over natural cycles; it is the time that has been designated, not just any passing moment. This distinction highlights how Scripture often frames history around specific, ordained moments rather than abstract chronology.
Translators typically render zeman as "time" or "appointed time," depending on context. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, for instance, it underscores the idea that every event has its proper season under heaven. The term reminds readers that history is not random but structured around key moments of action and fulfillment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zeman points to a specific, appointed moment rather than just general duration. It suggests that history is not random but structured around key moments designated by divine or royal decree. This concept offers comfort, reminding us that our lives unfold within a purposeful framework where every event has its proper season.
In Ecclesiastes 3:1, this idea highlights that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. It encourages readers to trust that their current circumstances are part of a larger, ordained timeline. This perspective helps us find peace in waiting and clarity in acting when the right moment arrives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- at/ appointed times/ their1×
- and/ according to/ appointed time/ their1×
- an appointed time1×
- a time1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- זְמָֽן\׃1×
- זְמָ֑ן1×
- וְ/כִ/זְמַנָּ֑/ם1×
- בִּ/זְמַנֵּי/הֶ֗ם1×
Key Verses
-
Ecclesiastes 3:1
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
This verse uses zeman to emphasize that every human purpose has a designated season under heaven, framing life within divine order.
-
Esther 9:27
the Jews established and imposed on themselves, on their descendants, and on all those who joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail that they would keep these two days according to what was written and according to its appointed time every year;
Here the word describes the fixed annual appointment for keeping Purim, showing how communities establish sacred times in response to deliverance.
-
Nehemiah 2:6
The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), “How long will your journey be? When will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him.
The term marks a specific deadline set by Nehemiah for his return, illustrating how appointed times structure practical human commitments and royal interactions.