Lexical Summary
zeh: this, these, here
Original Word:זֶה
Part of Speech:Pronoun masculine demonstrative
Transliteration:zeh
Pronunciation:zeh
Phonetic Spelling:(zeh)
KJV: he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the onethe other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this sideon that side, X thus, very, which
NASB:this, these, here, this one, such, one, other
Word Origin:[a primitive word]
1. the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
he, hence, here, itself, now, of him, the one
A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that -- he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the one...the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, X thus, very, which. Comparezo'th,zoh,zow,zuw.
see HEBREWzo'th
see HEBREWzoh
see HEBREWzow
see HEBREWzuw
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. pronoun
Definitionthis, here
NASB Translationanother (5), both sides* (1), both* (1), completely* (1), daylight* (1), each side (1), either side (1), ever (3), first woman (1), follows (1), here (29), how* (3), itself (1), just (1), morning (1), now (1), now* (1), one (12), one and another (1), one as well as another (1), one out to another (1), one side and the other (1), one while another (2), one side (11), one thing (1), origin* (1), other (12), other on the other side (1), other side (2), purpose (2), really (2), same (10), side (4), side and on the other (6), similarly (1), so (3), such (13), such a thing (2), then (9), there (4), therefore* (1), these (40), these to this (1), this (1230), this and these (1), this is what (3), this one (22), this side (2), this thing (1), this way (2), this woman (1), those (1), thus (7), thus* (1), today* (1), what (2), what* (3), where (1), where* (1), which (2), which* (2), why* (2).
Topical Lexicon
Range of Meaning and Grammatical Functionזֶה (zeh) functions primarily as the masculine singular demonstrative pronoun “this” or “that,” but it also appears adverbially (“here,” “now”) and in idiomatic constructions (“this day,” “for this reason”). Its feminine counterpart is זֹאת (zot) and its plural אֵלֶּה (elleh). With some 1,177 attestations, זֶה surfaces throughout every major section of the Hebrew canon, anchoring statements to a concrete person, object, moment, or revelation.
Occurrences in the Narrative Flow of Scripture
1. Pentateuchal Foundations
• Creation and Marriage: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). The demonstrative fixes Eve’s identity as God’s specific gift to Adam.
• Covenant Signs: “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you” (Genesis 9:12); “This is My name forever, and this is the memorial of Me to all generations” (Exodus 3:15). זֶה underscores the permanence of divine self-disclosure.
• Exodus Deliverance: “As for this Moses … we do not know what has happened to him!” (Exodus 32:1). The same word can either exalt or belittle, depending on the speaker’s heart.
• Sinai Worship: “This is the thing that the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you” (Leviticus 9:6). The phrase points to precise, God-given instruction.
2. Historical Books
• Memorial Stones: “What mean these stones? … That all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty” (Joshua 4:6-24). The demonstrative connects a physical object with covenant memory.
• Kingship: “Is this not David, of whom they sing …?” (1 Samuel 21:11). The word identifies Israel’s anointed king in the midst of Philistine mockery.
• Prophetic Vindication: “This is the man who conspired against his master, King Solomon put him to death” (1 Kings 2:44-46). זֶה singles out individuals for either judgment or blessing.
3. Wisdom and Poetry
• Worship: “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). The present moment is stamped with God’s authorship.
• Instruction: “My son, give heed to this” (Proverbs 23:19). The demonstrative focuses the hearer on immediate counsel.
4. Prophets
• Messianic Expectation: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit’” (Zechariah 4:6).
• Immanuel Sign: While Isaiah uses הִנֵּה to introduce the prophecy (Isaiah 7:14), Greek translators retain the demonstrative force, linking Old Testament revelation to New Testament fulfillment (“Behold, the virgin shall conceive…”).
• New Covenant Foretaste: “This is the rest with which you may give rest to the weary” (Isaiah 28:12), foreshadowing the Sabbath satisfaction ultimately realized in Christ.
Theological Significance
1. Particularity of Revelation
זֶה anchors God’s truths in real space-time events. Scripture is not abstract philosophy; it is the record of what God actually did and said. Each “this” answers the skeptic’s question, “Which God? Which word? Which day?” with concrete demonstration.
2. Covenant Confirmation
From Noah’s rainbow to Moses’ law to David’s dynasty, זֶה punctuates covenant landmarks. “This is the blood of the covenant” (Exodus 24:8) prefigures Christ’s own words, “This is My blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28), binding the Testaments together.
3. Decision and Accountability
Expressions such as “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15) show how זֶה presses men and women toward immediate obedience. The demonstrative turns theology into a present imperative.
4. Worship and Praise
In liturgical texts זֶה calls worshipers to celebrate the here-and-now mercies of God.Psalm 118:24 invites joyous response precisely because the day in front of the congregation has been fashioned by the Lord.
Christological Echoes
The frequent Old Testament pattern “This is…” finds its apex in the incarnate Son:
• “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
• “This Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
The demonstrative that once pointed to lambs, laws, and earthly deliverers now finds its perfect referent in the Lamb, the Law-fulfiller, and the Deliverer.
Liturgical and Devotional Use
• Memory Verses: Passages likePsalm 118:24 andIsaiah 26:3 are readily memorized and recited because זֶה frames them in present reality.
• Communion: The phraseology ofExodus 24:8 reverberates whenever believers hear, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20).
• Baptism and Testimony: “What hinders me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36) mirrors Old Testament declarations, as immediate response to revelation remains the fitting climax of faith.
Ministry Applications
1. Preaching: Highlight how each “this” calls for present-tense belief. Move listeners from abstract familiarity to concrete response.
2. Counseling: Use demonstrative verses to anchor assurance—God’s promises are not vague; they are “this hope we have as an anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19).
3. Discipleship: Encourage believers to mark “this day” moments—times when God’s word intersects daily life.
Intercanonical Bridge
The Septuagint usually renders זֶה with οὗτος/touto, a linkage the New Testament writers employ to show continuity of covenant revelation. When Peter proclaims, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16), he relies on the same demonstrative force embedded in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Conclusion
In every age, זֶה fastens God’s voice, acts, and promises to tangible reality. Whether identifying a covenant sign, a day of decision, or the Messiah Himself, the word calls hearers to recognize, rejoice in, and respond to the living God who speaks with unmistakable clarity.
Forms and Transliterations
בָּזֶ֑ה בָּזֶ֔ה בָּזֶ֖ה בָּזֶ֛ה בָּזֶה֙ בָזֶ֔ה בָזֶ֖ה בָזֶ֛ה בזה הֲזֶ֖ה הֲזֶ֣ה הֲזֶ֤ה הֲזֶה֙ הֲכָזֶ֗ה הֲלָזֶה֙ הַ֠זֶּה הַזֶּ֑ה הַזֶּ֔ה הַזֶּ֖ה הַזֶּ֗ה הַזֶּ֛ה הַזֶּ֜ה הַזֶּ֡ה הַזֶּ֤ה הַזֶּ֥ה הַזֶּ֨ה הַזֶּֽה׃ הַזֶּה֒ הַזֶּה֙ הַזֶּה֩ הַזֶּה֮ הזה הזה׃ הכזה הלזה וְ֝זֶ֗ה וְזֶ֕ה וְזֶ֖ה וְזֶ֗ה וְזֶ֛ה וְזֶ֡ה וְזֶ֣ה וְזֶ֣ה ׀ וְזֶ֤ה וְזֶ֥ה וְזֶ֨ה וְזֶֽה־ וְזֶה֙ וְזֶה֮ וְזֶה־ וְכָזֶ֔ה וְכָזֶ֖ה וּבָזֶ֕ה וּמִזֶּ֑ה וּמִזֶּ֖ה וּמִזֶּ֣ה וּמִזֶּ֣ה ׀ וּמִזֶּֽה׃ וּמִזֶּה֙ וּמִזֶּה֩ ובזה וזה וזה־ וכזה ומזה ומזה׃ זֶ֑ה זֶ֔ה זֶ֕ה זֶ֖ה זֶ֗ה זֶ֚ה זֶ֛ה זֶ֜ה זֶ֝֗ה זֶ֝ה זֶ֞ה זֶ֞ה֠ זֶ֠ה זֶ֡ה זֶ֣ה זֶ֣ה ׀ זֶ֤ה זֶ֤ה ׀ זֶ֥ה זֶ֦ה זֶ֧ה זֶ֨ה זֶ֨ה ׀ זֶ֭ה זֶּ֔ה זֶּ֖ה זֶּ֗ה זֶּ֛ה זֶּ֝֗ה זֶּ֞ה זֶּ֣ה זֶּ֥ה זֶּ֨ה זֶּֽה׃ זֶּה֙ זֶּה֩ זֶֽה־ זֶֽה׃ זֶה֙ זֶה֩ זֶה֮ זֶה־ זה זה־ זה׃ כָּזֶ֔ה כָזֶ֔ה כָזֶה֙ כזה לָזֶ֖ה לָזֶ֗ה לָזֶה֙ לזה מִ֫זֶּ֥ה מִזֶּ֑ה מִזֶּ֔ה מִזֶּ֖ה מִזֶּ֜ה מִזֶּ֣ה מִזֶּ֣ה ׀ מִזֶּ֤ה מִזֶּ֥ה מִזֶּֽה׃ מִזֶּה֙ מזה מזה׃ bā·zeh ḇā·zeh baZeh bāzeh ḇāzeh chaZeh hă·ḵā·zeh hă·lā·zeh hă·zeh hachaZeh hăḵāzeh halaZeh hălāzeh haz·zeh haZeh hăzeh hazzeh kā·zeh ḵā·zeh kaZeh kāzeh ḵāzeh lā·zeh laZeh lāzeh miz·zeh mizzeh ū·ḇā·zeh ū·miz·zeh ūḇāzeh umizZeh ūmizzeh uvaZeh vaZeh vechaZeh veZeh wə·ḵā·zeh wə·zeh wə·zeh- wəḵāzeh wəzeh wəzeh- zeh zeh-
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