זָעַם (za.am)
za.am
be indignant
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb za’am describes a sharp, active response to injustice or folly, often translated as "to be indignant" or "to denounce." It is not merely a feeling of annoyance but a vocal expression of anger that seeks to correct or condemn wrong behavior. In the Old Testament, this word carries significant weight, appearing in contexts where righteous anger meets foolishness or evil.
A key distinction lies in how this anger is directed. While it can describe human frustration, it is most strikingly applied to God’s reaction against sin. For instance, Proverbs 29:9 notes that if a wise person argues with a fool, there is either rage or laughter, highlighting the futility of engaging with stubborn folly. Conversely, Zechariah 1:15 describes God being "very angry" with the nations who took advantage of Israel’s suffering, showing that za’am can reflect divine judgment against those who exploit others.
The root conveys a sense of heated opposition, often expressed through speech or curse. It appears ten times in Scripture, primarily in wisdom literature and prophetic books. Translators sometimes render it as "curse" when the context involves verbal condemnation, but the core idea remains one of intense, righteous indignation against what is morally wrong.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word za’am describes a sharp, active response to injustice or folly. It is not merely a feeling of annoyance but a vocal expression of anger that seeks to correct wrong behavior. In the Old Testament, this term carries significant weight, appearing where righteous anger meets foolishness or evil. It conveys heated opposition, often expressed through speech or condemnation.
While it can describe human frustration, it is most strikingly applied to God’s reaction against sin. For instance, Zechariah 1:12 shows the angel asking how long God will continue to have indignation against Judah. This highlights that divine anger is not arbitrary but a response to persistent rebellion. Understanding this helps us see that God takes moral order seriously.
For your faith, this word reminds us that integrity matters. Proverbs 24:24 warns that those who excuse the wicked will be cursed by nations. Living with honesty protects your witness and aligns you with God’s heart for justice. It invites you to value truth over convenience in your daily interactions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you have been indignant1×
- will I denounce1×
- they will denounce/ him1×
- indignant1×
- he was indignant1×
- he has denounced1×
- denounce/ !1×
- and/ he will direct indignation1×
- and/ he will be indignant1×
- accursed1×
- [one who] is cursed of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים1×
- יִזְעָמ֥וּ/הוּ1×
- זֹעֲמָ֥/ה1×
- זָעַ֥ם1×
- זָעַ֖ם1×
- זָעַ֔מְתָּה1×
- זְעוּמָֽה\׃1×
- זְע֥וּם1×
- וְ/זָעַ֥ם1×
- וְ/זָעַ֖ם1×
- אֶזְעֹ֔ם1×
Key Verses
-
Zechariah 1:12
Then Yahweh’s angel replied, “O Yahweh of Armies, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have had indignation these seventy years?”
This verse captures the tension between God's long-suffering mercy and His enduring indignation against persistent rebellion, showing that divine anger is measured yet real.
-
Proverbs 24:24
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
Here the word illustrates the social and spiritual consequences of excusing wickedness, warning that such compromise leads to being cursed by the community.
-
Isaiah 66:14
You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones will flourish like the tender grass. Yahweh’s hand will be known among his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.
This occurrence contrasts God's comfort for His servants with His indignation against enemies, highlighting that divine justice is directed specifically at those who oppose Him.