H2091. zahab
זָהָב385 noun masculine[Gen 2:12] gold (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic Sabean דֿהב e.g. Os29 DHMZMG 1883, 338; Aramaic דְּהַב, , Palmyrene דהבא VogNo. 23) — ׳ז absolute [2:11] 364t.; construct [2:12] [6]t.; suffix זְהָבִי [1Kin 20:7] [2]t.; זְהָֽבְךָ [20:3], [5]; זְהָבֶ֑ךָ [Isa 30:22]; זְהָבוֺ [2:20]; [31:7]; זְהָבָם [Hosea 8:4] [4]t.; — gold,
1 = gold-ore, gold in a raw state, [Gen 2:11-12], [Jer 10:9]; [Prov 17:3]; [27:21]; [Job 28:1] +; perhaps also [1Kin 9:28]; [10:11]; [22:49] etc.; compare ז ׳עַפְרֹת [Job 28:6] gold-dust; see also [Zech 13:9] (simile of tried people ׳י) and compare [Mal 3:3]; likewise [Job 23:10] (simile of Job's purity, as shewn by divine tests); זָהָב מִצָּפוֺן [37:22] is dubious **read perhaps זֹהַר Du and Dr; Ew De and others out of the North comes gold; others, however, golden light, brightness, of sun after clouds dispersed by north wind, ᵐ5 Rabb Da and others; or golden splendour of God coming from north BöÄ 76 Hi and others; Siegf conjecture יהוה for זהב
2 gold as wealth [Gen 13:2] (J; + כֶּסֶף מִקְנֶה,) [24:34] (J; + חֲמֹרִים גְּמַלִּים, שְׁפָחֹת, עֲבָדִם, כֶּסֶף, בָּקָר, צאֹן,) compare [Hosea 2:8]; [Isa 2:7]; [Deut 8:13]; [17:17]; [Job 3:15]; [31:24]; [Zech 14:14]; [Ezra 1:4], [6] +; in General, as precious: טוֺב חֵן וּמִזָּהָב מִכֶּסֶף רָ֑ב מֵעשֶׁר שֵׁם נִבְחָר [Prov 22:1] to be chosen is a name more than great riches, and good favour more than silver and than gold; [Job 28:17] (of wisdom) gold and glass do not equal it; [Psa 19:10] (ordinances of ׳י) which are more to be desired than gold; compare [119:72]; [119:127]; also metaphor of princes and chief men of Zion [Lam 4:1] (compare [4:2]).
3 gold as spoil of war [Josh 6:19] (+ בַּרְזֶל כְּלֵינְֿחשֶׁת, כֶּסֶף,) so [6:24], compare [7:21], [24]; [22:8]; [2Kin 7:8] +.
4 gold as merchandise [Ezek 27:22] (+ כָּלבּֿשֶֹׁם ראֹשׁ יְקָרָה, אֶבֶן), compare also gold from Ophir [1Kin 9:28] etc. (see below 7 below)
5 gold as costly gift: to a prophet וְז כֶּסֶף בֵּיתוֺ ׳מְלֹא (hypothet.), [Num 22:18]; [24:13] (both E); brought by queen of Sheba to Solomon [1Kin 10:2], [10] (both + יְקָרָה אֶבֶן and בְּשָׂמִים) = [2Chr 9:1], [9]; as tribute [2Kin 23:35] (twice in verse) (compare [23:33]; all + כֶּסֶף); as satisfaction for murder [2Sam 21:4] (+ כֶּסֶף).
6 gold as material: of (nose- or ear-) ring, נֶזֶם [Gen 24:22]; [Exod 32:2-3], [Judg 8:24-25], [Prov 11:22]; [25:12]; [Job 42:11]; of chain [Gen 41:42], shields [2Sam 8:7], images of emerods [1Sam 6:4], [17] and mice [6:4]; [6:11]; [6:18]; ז ׳תַּמּוּחֵי כֶּסֶף בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֺת [Prov 25:11]; ז ׳גֻּלַּת [Exod 12:6]; ׳כְּלֵיזֿ [3:22]; [11:2]; [12:35]; [1Sam 6:8]; [Psa 105:37] etc.; זָהָב וּכְלֵי כְּלֵיכֶֿסֶף [Gen 24:53] as presents to a bride (+ בְּגָדִים); so of presents to secure king's favour [2Sam 8:10] (+ נְחשֶׁת כְּלֵי), and in list of yearly gifts or tribute to Solomon [1Kin 10:25] [2Chr 9:24]; as material of idols ז וֵאלֹהֵי ׳כֶסֶף אֱלֹהֵי [Exod 20:23]; compare [32:31]; [Hosea 8:4]; [Isa 2:20]; [30:22]; [31:7]; [Deut 29:16]; [Psa 115:4]; [135:15]; as plating of idols [Deut 7:25]; especially as material of the furnishings of Solomon's temple, or (oftener) the platings of temple, or parts thereof, or of its furnishings [1Kin 6:20-21], (3 t. in verse); [6:22] (twice in verse); [6:28]; [7:48] [10]t. [6:7]; also [2Chr 3:5] (twice in verse); [3:6] [14]t. [3:4]; cf [1Chr 28:14] (twice in verse) + 14 t. 1 Chronicles 28:29 (David's preparation for temple); see also [2Kin 24:13]; compare [14:14] [2Chr 25:24]; [2Kin 25:15] = [Jer 52:19] (in accounts of plundering temple etc.); but more often still of furnishing and utensils of tabernacle, insignia of high-priest etc., [Exod 25:3], [11], [24] 97t. Exodus 25-40, [Lev 8:9]; [Num 4:11]; [8:4]; (in case of large objects frequently of plating or sheathing, compare 12c below) Note the expressions ז ׳תְּנוּפַת ליהוה [Exod 35:22] a wave-offering of gold, הַתְּנוּפָה זְהַב [38:24]; also הַתְּרוּמָה זְהַב [Num 31:52] (all P) compare [Ezra 8:25], and (of offering to heathen god) בְּזָהָב יְכַבֵּד [Dan 11:38].
7 gold described by its source, especially gold from Ophir (compare Glass: Skizze ii. 357 ff. 368) [1Kin 9:28]; [10:11]; [22:49]; [1Chr 29:4]; [2Chr 8:18]; [9:10]; so perh [Jer 10:9] (read אוֺפִיר for אוּפַז Ew Klo and others); שְׁבָא זְהַב [Psa 72:15]; on ׳ז מַּרְוָ֑יִם[2Chr 3:6] see פרוים; compare further [Gen 2:11-12],.
8 gold defined by var. adjective and pts.: ׳ז שָׁחוּט beaten gold (see שָׁחַט) [1Kin 10:16-17], [2Chr 9:15] (twice in verse); [9:16]; ׳ז סָגוּר [1Kin 6:20-21], also [7:49-50], [10:21] [2Chr 4:20], [22]; [9:21] (on meaning see סָגַר); especially (but only P & Chronicles) ׳ז טָהוֺר pure gold [Exod 25:11], [17], [24] [21]t. Exodus 25.. 28. 30. 37. 39 (of equipments of tabernacle and high priest's insignia), [1Chr 28:17]; [2Chr 3:4]; [9:17]; compare ׳ז טוֺב[3:5], [8]; on ׳ז מוּפָז [1Kin 10:18], AV best gold, compare מָּזַז אוּפָז,.
9 ׳ז as measure of weight and value:
a. = gold-shekel, ז ׳עֲשָׂרָה מִשְׁקָלָם [Gen 24:22]; ז עֲשָׂרָה אַחַת ׳כַּף [Num 7:14] [11]t. Numbers 7; ז ׳וּשְׁבַעמֵֿאוֺת אֶלֶף [Judg 8:26], compare [1Kin 10:16]; [2Kin 5:5]; [2Chr 9:15-16], ז ׳אַלְפֵי וָכָ֑סֶף [Psa 119:72]; compare further [Josh 7:21]; but also (only Chronicles) שֶׁקֶל expressed: מֵאוֺת שֵׁשׁ ז ׳שִׁקְלֵי מִשְׁקַל [1Chr 21:25] (50 shekels of silver in || [2Sam 24:24]); ז חֲמִשִּׁים לִשְׁקָלִים לְמִסְמְרוֺת ׳וּמִשְׁקָל[2Chr 3:9].
b. ז מָנִים ׳שְׁלשֶׁת [1Kin 10:17] three minas of gold (see מָנֶה).
c. ז ׳כִּכַּר talent of gold [2Sam 12:30]; [1Kin 9:14] + (see כִּכָּר).
d. וָאֶלֶף שֵׁשׁרִֿבּאֹוֺת דַּרְכְּמוֺנִים זָהָב [Ezra 2:69] compare [Neh 7:69-70], [71]; also ז ׳וּכְפֹרֵי אָ֑לָף לַאֲדַרְכֹּנִים עֶשְׂרִים [Ezra 8:27] (see דַּרְכְּמוֺן); — with the above should perhaps be compared ז ׳הַזָּלִים מִכִּיס [Isa 46:6] i.e. the gold used in making the god was the coin carried in the bag.
10 ׳ז = golden oil, from colour, [Zech 4:12].
11 ׳ז often named with כֶּסֶף, and then, in earlier and sometimes in later writings, follows it: וּבַזָּהָב בַּכֶּסֶף [Gen 13:2] (J), compare [24:35], [53]; [44:8] (all J) [Exod 3:22]; [11:2]; [12:35]; [Num 22:18]; [24:13] (all E), [Josh 6:19], [24] (JE), [Deut 7:25]; [17:17]; [29:16]; [2Sam 8:11]; [21:4]; [1Kin 7:51]; [15:15], [18], [19]; [2Kin 7:8]; [16:8]; [18:14]; [20:13]; [23:33], [35] (twice in verse); [Hosea 2:10]; [8:4]; [Isa 2:7]; [60:9]; [Jer 10:4]; [Zeph 1:18]; [Ezek 7:19]; [38:13]; [Zech 6:11]; Joel 4:5, [Prov 22:1]; [Psa 105:37]; [115:4]; [135:15]; [2Chr 1:15]; [5:1]; [Ezra 1:4]; [8:25]; [Dan 11:8]; [Eccl 2:8] +; in later writings ׳ז often precedes [Ezek 28:4]; [Zech 14:14]; [Mal 3:3]; [1Chr 18:10]; [22:14], [16]; [28:15-16], [29:3-4], [5], [7]; [2Chr 9:14], [21]; [24:14]; [25:24]; [Ezra 1:11]; [Psa 119:72]; [Song 1:11]; [Dan 11:38] +, and so in P, [Exod 25:3]; [31:4]; [35:5], [32]; [Num 31:32]; yet also as early as [Hab 2:19]; [1Kin 10:22]; [2Kin 25:15].
12 the chief verbs used with ׳ז are:
a. עָשָׂה make of (c. 2 accusative) [1Kin 7:48] (compare [7:49]; [7:49]; [7:50]; [7:50]) [10:16]; [12:28]; [14:26]; [2Chr 4:7-8], [19]; [12:9]; [13:8], and especially in P (tabernacle) [Exod 25:11], [17], [18] [35]t. Exodus 25-39; also followed by בְּ work in gold, בַּזּ ׳לַעֲשׂוֺת וּבַנְּחשֶׁת וּבַכֶּסֶף [31:4]; [35:32], also (+ בַּבַּרְזֶל, etc.), [2Chr 2:6]; [2:13];
b. יָצַק (object ז ׳טַבְּעֹת) [Exod 25:12]; [37:3], [13] (all P);
c. צִמָּה overlay with (c. 2 accusative) [1Kin 6:20-21], (twice in verse); [6:22], [28], [30], [32], [35] ([6:32]; [6:35] one accusative omitted), [10:18]; [2Chr 3:4], [10]; [9:17], and especially P (tabernacle) [Exod 25:11], [13], [24], [28] [15]t. Exodus 26-37; in same sense
d. ז ׳וַיְחַמֵּהוּ[2Chr 3:5] compare [3:7]; [3:8]; [3:9], and
e. ז ׳תָּפוּשׂ וָכֶסֶף [Hab 2:19] encased in gold and silver; also
f. ׳בַּזּ יְרַקְּעֶנּוּ [Isa 40:19];
g. רדד Hiph`il, אֶתהַֿזּ וְעַלהַֿתִּמֹּרוֺת עַלהַֿכְּרוּבִים ׳וַיָּ֫רֶב [1Kin 6:32] and he spread upon the cherubim and upon the palm-trees the gold; further
h. בָּחַן try, [Zech 13:9]; compare
i. זִקַּק [Mal 3:3]. — On זָהָב דִּי, proper name; on זָהָב מֵי proper name see below מַיִם.