זֶ֫רֶד (ze.red)
ze.red
Zered
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Zered refers to a specific watercourse located east of the Jordan River, marking the boundary between the territories of Moab and Edom. Lexical sources identify it as an "osier brook," suggesting a stream lined with willow-like vegetation that likely flows seasonally or maintains a modest current rather than serving as a major navigable river.
This name appears in only three verses within the Hebrew Bible, primarily in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. In these texts, it functions as a geographical marker during the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness. The narrative places it as a significant stop or border point before the people cross into the Promised Land, anchoring the historical account in a concrete landscape.
While its exact modern identification remains a subject of scholarly discussion, the textual evidence consistently positions Zered as a natural landmark in the arid region east of the Jordan. Its mention underscores the tangible reality of the wilderness wanderings, providing readers with a specific location where the community paused before continuing their migration toward Moab.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Zered points to a real place on the map of Israel’s long journey home. It was not a grand city or a fortified stronghold, but a small stream marking the edge of Moab and Edom. For the people wandering in the wilderness, this brook was a tangible sign that time was passing. They had been traveling for thirty-eight years, waiting for a generation to pass as God had promised. Standing by these waters must have felt like a pause button on their history.
Today, this word reminds us that faithfulness often involves waiting in the ordinary places of life. We do not always see immediate results or dramatic miracles. Sometimes we are simply walking through a valley, moving toward a promise that feels distant. The presence of Zered shows that God notices the details of our journey, even the quiet stretches between the big moments.
When you feel stuck in a long season of waiting, remember that every step is recorded. The wilderness was not a detour; it was part of the path. Trust that the same God who guided them to this brook is guiding you through your current valley, leading you toward the rest He has prepared.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zered4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- זָֽרֶד\׃2×
- זָ֑רֶד1×
- זֶ֔רֶד1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 21:12
From there they traveled, and encamped in the valley of Zered.
This verse establishes Zered as a physical location where the Israelites set up camp, grounding the narrative in a specific geographical reality.
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Deuteronomy 2:13
“Now rise up and cross over the brook Zered.” We went over the brook Zered.
Here Moses commands the people to cross the brook, using it as the final boundary marker before entering the land of Moab.
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Deuteronomy 2:14
The days in which we came from Kadesh Barnea until we had come over the brook Zered were thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the middle of the camp, as Yahweh swore to them.
This passage uses the crossing of Zered as a chronological anchor, marking the end of the thirty-eight years of wandering.