BDB2464 [H2233]

1. literal:
\ \ a. a sowing הַשָּׂדֶה ׳לְז Gen 47:24 (J; + אָכְלְכֶם; otherwise Lev 27:16 b, see below 2 c); ׳לֹא מְקוֺם ז Num 20:5 no place for sowing (J E; + וּתְאֵנָה וְגֶפֶן וְרִמּוֺן); compare ׳שְׂדֵה ז Ezek 17:5 a field suitable for sowing; hence
\ \ b. sowing as regularly recurring at its season Gen 8:22 (J; || קָצִיר, + קֹר וָחֹם וְקַיִץ וָחֹרֶף וְיוֺם וָלַיְלָה), Lev 26:5 (H; || דַּיִשׁ, בָּצִיר; — compare Amos 9:13 below 2 a).

2. seed:
\ \ a. literally, sown, to raise crops for food, usually corn (wheat, barely, etc.) Gen 47:19; Gen 47:23 (J; compare vGen 47:14f.), Num 24:7 (JE); נָתַן לַֹזּרֵעַ ׳ז Isa 55:10 (|| לֶחֶם), Deut 28:38 (רַב ׳ז), Lev 26:16 (H; with זָרַע), Lev 27:16 a, חֹמֶר שְׂעֹרִים ׳ז vLev 27:16b (both P), compare Isa 5:10.
\ \ b. figurative, of idolatry of Judah Isa 17:11 (|| קציר); of fortunes of Zion ׳מֶשֶׁךְ הַזּ Ps 126:6 the dropping of seed, i.e. the proper quantity for sowing (opposed to אֲלֻמֹּת); Jer 35:7 (with זָרַע, || כֶּרֶם לֹא תִטָּ֔עוּ), compare vJer 35:9 (|| כרם, שׂדה); ׳מְטַר ז Isa 30:23 (with זָרַע, || לֶחֶם תְּבוּאַתּ הָאֲדָמָה); also Deut 11:10 (with זָרַע), Eccl 11:6 (c. id.); זֵרוּעַ ׳ז Lev 11:37, compare vLev 11:38 (both P); as yielding the crop תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶ֑ךָ Deut 14:22 the product of thy seed, compare
\ \ d. below; ׳וְנִגַּשׁ תוֺרֵשׁ בַּקּוֺצֵר וְדֹרֵךְ עֲנָבִים בְּמשֵׁךְ הַזּ Amos 9:13, in figure of rapid and plentiful growth in the coming time; הָאָרֶץ ׳ז producing a vine Ezek 17:5, of growth and prosperity of Israel; ׳הַזּ Mal 2:3, read perhaps הַזְּרֹעַ (compare VB).
\ \ c. seed as product; the manna is compare with גַּד ׳ז, coriander seed Num 11:7 (JE), Exod 16:31 (P); seed of herbs and trees Gen 1:11 (twice in verse); Gen 1:12 (twice in verse); Gen 1:29 (twice in verse) (all P). Especially
\ \ d. seed as corn-product, corn-crop, so (although not quite clearly) Deut 22:9 (with זָרַע; || תְּבוּאַת הַכָּ֑רֶם); plural 1Sam 8:15 (perhaps better arable lands, compare above As zêru; || כרמים), הָאָרֶץ ׳ז Lev 27:30 (|| פְּרִיעֵֿץ; otherwise Gen 47:24, compare above 1 a); שִׁחֹר ׳ז Isa 23:3 (|| קְצִיר יְאוֺר); בַּמְּגוּרָה ׳הַעוֺד הַזּ Hag 2:19 (|| גֶּפֶן, תְּאֵנָה, רִמּוֺן, עֵץ הַזַּיִת); יָשִׁו֯ב זַרְעֶ֑ךָ וְגָרְנְךָ יֶאֱסֹף Job 39:12 (of harvest); so perhaps ׳כְּבֵית סָאתַיִם ז 1Kgs 18:32.
\ \ e. זֶרַע הַשָּׁלוֺם הַגֶּפֶן Zech 8:12, read perhaps שׁלוֺם ׳הַזּ the crop is security (= secure), so ᵑ6 Or and others; > Ew Hi and others who translate ׳הַשּׁ ׳ז the growth of peace, making הַגֶּפֶּן appositive — Verbs used with ׳ז in these senses are: — usually זַרַע Gen 1:11; Lev 26:16; Jer 35:7 +; הִפְרִיחַ Isa 17:11 נָתַן בְּ = plant, sow Ezek 17:5 נָתַן yield Isa 55:10 מָשַׁךְ Amos 9:13.

3. seed = semen virile, וְנִזְרְעָה זָ֑רַע Num 5:28, and she shall be made pregnant with seed; usually ׳שִׁכְּבַתזֿ, flow of semen Lev 22:4 (H), Lev 15:16; Lev 15:32 (P; all with תֵּצֵא), Lev 15:17 (P; with הָיָה); as accusative modi שׁכב ׳ז ׳אתאִֿשָּׁה שׁ Lev 19:20 (H), Lev 15:18; Num 5:13 (both P); so also נתן שְׁכָבְתּוֺ לְזרע Lev 18:20 (לְ genitives); compare בְּהֵמָה ׳אָדָם וז ׳ז Jer 31:27 (as 2nd accusative after זָרַע q. v. 3 b).

4. seed = off spring:
\ \ a. rarely of animals, collective Gen 3:15; Gen 7:3 (both J). Usu.
\ \ b. of mankind, coll. = descendants, posterity; seed of the woman Gen 3:15 (J); seed of the patriarchs (especially Abraham) Gen 12:17; Gen 13:15; Gen 13:16 (twice in verse); Gen 16:10; Gen 22:17 (twice in verse); Gen 22:18; Gen 24:7; Gen 26:3; Gen 26:4 (3 t. in verse); Gen 26:24; Gen 28:13; Gen 28:14 (twice in verse); Gen 32:13 (all J), Gen 15:13; Gen 15:18; Exod 32:13 (twice in verse); Exod 33:1 (all J E), Gen 21:12; Josh 24:3 (both E; in both promised seed of Abraham restricted to line of Isaac), Deut 11:9; Deut 34:4; Neh 9:8 = a son as involving posterity Gen 15:3; Gen 15:5 (JE) compare below; phrase זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם Deut 1:8, compare Deut 4:37; Deut 10:15, so P, Gen 17:7 (twice in verse); Gen 17:8; Gen 17:9; Gen 17:10; Gen 17:19; Gen 35:12; Gen 48:4 זִרְעֲךָ אִתָּךְ Gen 28:4 (P; compare Num 18:19); see also below c. c. seed (= posterity) of other individuals Gen 21:13 (E; of Ishmael) Gen 24:60; Gen 48:19 (both J), Num 14:24 (JE), Lev 21:21; Lev 22:3; Lev 22:4 (all H), Num 17:5 (P), 1Sam 20:42 (twice in verse); 1Sam 24:22; 2Sam 4:8; 1Kgs 2:33 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 11:39; 2Kgs 5:27; Jer 29:32; Ezek 43:19; Job 5:25 (|| צֶאֱצָאֶיךָ), Job 21:8 (|| id.); especially of seed of David as anointed to reign Ps 18:51 = 2Sam 22:51 (|| לִמְשִׁיחוֺ), as sitting on throne Jer 33:21, compare vJer 33:22 vJer 33:26, Ps 89:5; Ps 89:30; Ps 89:37 of Jehoiachin Jer 22:28; Jer 22:30, Jehoiakim Jer 36:31 (compare vJer 36:30); of child (son) as involving posterity Gen 38:8; Gen 38:9 (twice in verse) (of Er's seed by Onam); Gen 48:11 (all J), compare Gen 19:32; Gen 19:31 (J), 2Sam 7:12; Ruth 4:12; Lev 21:15 (H); phrase זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם of seed of Noah and his sons Gen 9:9 of Aaron Exod 28:43 of Phinehas Num 25:13 (all P); of David 1Chr 17:11 לְזַרְעוֺ לְדֹרֹתָם Exod 30:21 (P), compare Lev 21:17 (H; both of Aaron), see also b above ׳ז, of seed of righteous, especially Psalms: — Ps 25:13; Ps 37:25; Ps 37:26; Ps 69:37; Ps 102:29 (|| בָּנִים), Ps 112:2 (|| דּוֺר ישׁרים), compare Ps 22:31 (on text see Che); of wicked Ps 21:11; Ps 37:28.
\ \ d. specifically of a particular child (son) אַחֵר ׳ז Gen 4:25 (J); אֲנָשִׁים ׳ז 1Sam 1:11 of children Lev 18:21; Lev 20:2; Lev 20:34; Lev 22:13 (all H), 1Sam 2:20 (compare בָּנִים, בָּנוֺת1Sam 2:21); children and grandchildren Gen 46:6; Gen 46:7 (P).
\ \ e. family Gen 17:12 (P; compare Assyrian zêr bit abišu Asrb^{Annals iii. 10}); note especially of royal family הַמֶּלֶךְ ׳ז 1Kgs 11:14 הַמַּמְלָכָה ׳ז 2Kgs 11:1 = 2Chr 22:10 הַמְּלוּכָה ׳ז 2Kgs 25:25 = Jer 41:1; Ezek 17:13; Dan 1:3 = pedigree בית אבותם וְזַרְעָם Ezra 2:59 = Neh 7:61 = one's nation, as of same blood Esth 10:3 (|| עַם). — Some verbs used with ׳ז in these senses are: — נָתַן, God subject Gen 15:3; Ruth 4:12 (followed by מִן of woman); שִׂים 1Sam 2:20 with man as subject נתן Gen 38:9 הֵקִים vGen 38:8 ׳חִיָּה ז, keep alive, or give life to, of animals Gen 7:3 of woman Gen 19:32; Gen 19:34 (followed by מִן of man). feminine especially as name for people of Israel, seed of Abraham Isa 41:8; 2Chr 20:7 (|| עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל), Jer 33:26; Ps 105:6 (|| בְּנֵי יעקִב); of Israel or Jacob 2Kgs 17:20; Neh 9:2 (|| בני ישׂראל vNeh 9:1), Isa 43:5; Isa 45:19; Isa 45:25; Jer 31:36; Jer 31:37; Jer 33:26; Ps 22:24 (twice in verse); 1Chr 16:13 (|| בני יעקב); so בֵּית ישׂראל ׳ז Jer 23:8; Ezek 44:22 (ᵑ6 ᵐ5 Manuscripts Co strike out בית); בית ׳ז יעקב Ezek 20:5 in Esther. הַיְהוּדִים ׳ז Esth 6:13 so of Edom (seed of Esau) Jer 49:10, compare מִוֶּרע מָדַי Dan 9:1.
\ \ g. seed of Israel (or Jacob, or the people), is used also, by (later) prophets, of future generations, in addressing the people: — Deut 28:46; Deut 28:59; Deut 30:6; Deut 30:19; Deut 31:21, compare Num 18:19 (P; לְזַרְעֲךָ אִתָּ֑ךְ, || וּלְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנוֺתֶיךָ), Jer 30:10 = Jer 46:27 (Jacob and Israel here = people), Ps 106:27 || צֶאֱצָא(יך ׅ Isa 44:3 (Jacob and Jeshurun), Isa 48:19, compare Isa 61:9 also Jer 7:15; Isa 54:3; Isa 66:22 (|| שִׁמְכֶם); מִפִּי זַרְעֲךָ וּמִפִּי זֶרַע זַרְעֲךָ Isa 59:21 of Jews (יהודים) Esth 9:27; Esth 9:28; Esth 9:31.

5. seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality; transition to this through such cases as those of ׳בְּרוּכֵי י ׳ז Isa 65:23 (|| צֶאֱצָאִים), compare Isa 61:9; Isa 65:9 הַקֹּדֶשׁ ׳ז Ezra 9:2 (of Israel), compare Isa 53:10 note, in good sense צַדִּיקִים ׳ז Prov 11:21 (opposed to רַע); אֱמֶת ׳ז Jer 2:21 (|| שׂוֺרֵק); אלהים ׳ז Mal 2:15 — קֹדֶשׁ ׳ז Isa 6:13 is a gloss; — in bad sense מְרֵעִים ׳ז Isa 1:4 community of evil-doers (|| גּוֺיחֹֿטֵא, עַם כֶּבֶד עָוֺן, בָּנִים מַשְׁחִיתִים), Isa 14:20 מְנָאֵף ׳ז Isa 57:3 (|| בני עֹנֲנָה); שָֿׁ֑קֶר׳ז vIsa 57:4 (|| יִלְדֵיפֶֿשַׁע).