זְרַע (ze.ra)
ze.ra
seed
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun zera means seed or offspring. In the book of Daniel, it appears in a famous vision where King Nebuchadnezzar describes a statue made of mixed materials. The text uses this word to describe the feet and toes, noting that they are partly iron and partly clay, symbolizing a divided kingdom that will mix with others but not fully unite.
This usage highlights how the term extends beyond agriculture to represent lineage or political entities. Just as seed produces new life, zera here points to the people who make up these kingdoms. The imagery suggests fragility in this mixed state, contrasting with the stone that destroys the statue and fills the whole earth.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zera, meaning seed or offspring, appears in Daniel’s vision of King Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. In this context, it describes the feet and toes made of iron mixed with clay. This imagery illustrates a kingdom that attempts to unite different peoples but remains divided and fragile.
For your faith, this offers a sobering view of human alliances. No matter how diverse a group may seem, if it relies on its own strength rather than God’s authority, it cannot truly hold together. The vision points toward a future where God’s kingdom will replace all earthly powers with something lasting and whole.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ [the] offspring of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בִּ/זְרַ֣ע1×
Key Verses
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Daniel 2:43
Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they will mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they won’t cling to one another, even as iron does not mix with clay.
This verse uses 'seed' to describe the mixed population of the final earthly kingdom, highlighting its inability to achieve true unity.