Lexical Summary
zara: To sow, scatter seed
Original Word:זָרַע
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:zara`
Pronunciation:zah-rah
Phonetic Spelling:(zaw-rah')
KJV: bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield
NASB:sow, sown, yielding, sowed, sower, sowing, sows
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to sow
2. (figuratively) to disseminate, plant, fructify
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bear, conceive seed, set with sower, yield
A primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify -- bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto sow, scatter seed
NASB Translationconceive (1), gives birth (1), perpetuated (1), plant seed (1), scatter (1), set (1), sow (28), sowed (2), sower (2), sowing (2), sown (10), sows (2), unsown* (1), yielding (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (Late Hebrew
id.; Assyrian
zirû TP
Prism vi. 15; Arabic
; Aramaic
, ; Ethiopic
but in Sabean DHM
ZMG 1883, 15 and in proper name, Id. in MV
10, pp. 242, 983) —
Perfect3masculine singularJudges 6:3; 1singularJeremiah 31:27; suffix consecHosea 2:25; 3pluralJeremiah 12:13; 2masculine pluralHaggai 1:6; consecutiveGenesis 47:23 2t.;ImperfectEcclesiastes 11:4;Genesis 26:12; suffixJudges 9:45; 1singular Judg 31:8; suffixZechariah 10:9, etc.;Imperative masculine singularEcclesiastes 11:6; masculine pluralHosea 10:12 2t.;InfinitiveIsaiah 28:24;Participle activeIsaiah 55:10 3t.;Proverbs 22:8;Jeremiah 50:16, etc.;Passive participlePsalm 97:11 (but on text see below); feminineJeremiah 2:2; —
literallysow:
absolutesow (seed), do one's sowingJudges 6:3;Genesis 26:12 (J),Isaiah 28:24 (after ploughing );Isaiah 37:30 =2 Kings 19:29; "" alsoMicah 6:15;Leviticus 25:11 (H),Ecclesiastes 11:4; ""Leviticus 25:20 (H); opposed toJob 31:8;Isaiah 32:20 (on construct compare Ges§ 130, 1); withLeviticus 25:22; followed byHaggai 1:6 (opposed to ).
with accusative of landExodus 23:10 (J E; "" ),Genesis 47:23 (J); field ()Leviticus 25:3 ("" ), compareLeviticus 25:4;Psalm 107:37; as passive participleJeremiah 2:2 ("" ).
with accusative of seedDeuteronomy 11:10, compareDeuteronomy 22:9;Jeremiah 35:7;Leviticus 26:16 (H)Ecclesiastes 11:6; followed byJeremiah 12:13 ("" ); compare alsoExodus 23:16 (JE).
followed by 2 accusativeDeuteronomy 22:9; compareLeviticus 19:19 (H);Isaiah 30:23; also of destroyed cityJudges 9:45.
participle active as substantiveJeremiah 50:16 ("" );Isaiah 55:10 ("" ).
producing, yielding seed, with accusative of congnate meaning with verbGenesis 1:29 (twice in verse) (P), compare figurative:
sowing (planting) Israel in the landHosea 2:25 (We , object being Jezreel); on the other handZechariah 10:9.
with 2 accusative, of Yahweh's fructifying Israel and JudahJeremiah 31:27.
,Hosea 10:12 ("" );Proverbs 11:18;Jeremiah 4:3sow not in among thorns (said of a few righteous deeds amid much wickedness); especially of evil-doingHosea 8:7;Job 4:8 ("" );Proverbs 22:8.
Isaiah 17:10 (2 accusative)
Psalm 126:5 metaphor of distress followed by joy.
Psalm 97:11 read probably , Vrss Ol Hu Bae Che and others
,Perfect3feminine singular consecutiveNumbers 5:28; 2masculine plural consecutiveEzekiel 36:9;Imperfect3masculine singularNahum 1:14;Deuteronomy 21:4;Leviticus 11:37; 3feminine singularDeuteronomy 29:22; —
be sown:
subject ,Deuteronomy 29:22, compare (of )Deuteronomy 21:4; in address to ,Ezekiel 36:9.
subject ,Leviticus 11:37 (P); figurativeNahum 1:14no more of thy name be sown, in judgment against Nineveh.
be fructified, made pregnantNumbers 5:28 (P; of woman).
Perfect3pluralIsaiah 40:24 of princes and judges under figure of trees ("" , ).
Imperfect3feminine singularLeviticus 12:2;ParticipleGenesis 1:11,12; —
produce seed, of herb, with accusative of congnate meaning with verbGenesis 1:11,12; apparently denominative from ; compare of a woman, =bear a childLeviticus 12:2.
(compare Biblical Hebrew I. ); — constructDaniel 2:43seed (offspring) of men.
Topical Lexicon
Root Idea and Range of MeaningThe verb denotes the purposeful act of scattering seed in order to secure a harvest. By extension it speaks of investing effort, spreading influence, or initiating a process whose results will appear later. The contexts span ordinary field work, covenant blessing, prophetic promise, moral instruction, and eschatological hope.
Literal Agricultural Use
In patriarchal narrative, sowing marks divine favor amid famine: “Then Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold, and the LORD blessed him” (Genesis 26:12). Mosaic legislation presumes seasonal sowing as part of Israel’s agrarian rhythm (Exodus 23:10;Leviticus 25:3). The verb frames ordinary obedience—ploughing, sowing, reaping—as stewardship under Yahweh’s providence (Deuteronomy 22:9). Kings and commoners alike sowed grain (1 Kings 18:32), reinforcing the land-promise theme that fruitful soil attests covenant fidelity.
Covenantal Blessing and Curse
Deuteronomy sets sowing within the blessings of obedience—“The LORD will bless… the produce of your soil” (Deuteronomy 28:8)—and the curses of rebellion, where seed will be consumed by locust or enemy (Deuteronomy 28:38-40). Jeremiah laments covenant breach: “They have sown wheat but harvested thorns” (Jeremiah 12:13). Haggai links failed harvests to temple neglect (Haggai 1:6), showing that successful sowing depends on right worship.
Prophetic and Eschatological Imagery
Prophets turn the verb into a metaphor of restoration. Hosea promises, “I will sow her for Myself in the land” (Hosea 2:23), portraying Judah as seed replanted after exile. Zechariah foresees global renewal: “I will sow them among the peoples, and they will remember Me” (Zechariah 10:9). These passages marry agricultural metaphor with missionary dispersion and regathering.
Wisdom and Moral Instruction
Proverbs warns against sowing injustice (Proverbs 22:8); the harvest will match the seed. Job complains that the wicked “sow trouble and reap it” (Job 4:8). The verb enforces the moral order: actions inevitably yield fitting outcomes.
Cultic and Ceremonial Contexts
Leviticus 12:2 ties childbirth to ceremonial cleansing “when a woman conceives (lit. sows seed),” emphasizing that life itself is God’s sowing. Priests guarded the sanctity of seedtime laws that prevented mixture (Leviticus 19:19), teaching separation unto holiness.
Christological and Apostolic Echoes
Though the Hebrew verb ends with Malachi, its theology bridges to the New Testament. Isaiah’s servant songs prefigure the Messiah whose life is a seed “sprouting” salvation (compareIsaiah 53:10 withJohn 12:24). Paul alludes to the principle inGalatians 6:7-9, “whatever a man sows, he will reap,” rooting ethical exhortation in Old Testament revelation.
Devotional and Ministry Application
1. Faithful sowing calls believers to diligence in word and deed, trusting God for the increase (Ecclesiastes 11:4-6).
2. The verb assures missionaries that spiritual seed will bear fruit in God’s timing (Psalm 126:5-6).
3. It warns against moral compromise, for unjust seed brings sorrow (Hosea 8:7).
4. It fuels hope: God can “sow” exiles, ideas, or ministries in unlikely soil for a multiplied harvest (Jeremiah 31:27-28).
Representative Occurrences
Genesis 26:12;Exodus 23:10;Leviticus 19:19;Leviticus 25:3;Deuteronomy 22:9;Deuteronomy 28:38;Job 4:8;Psalm 126:5-6;Proverbs 22:8;Isaiah 30:23;Isaiah 61:11;Jeremiah 12:13;Jeremiah 31:27;Hosea 2:23;Hosea 8:7;Joel 2:23;Amos 9:13;Haggai 1:6;Zechariah 10:9.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶ֭זְרְעָה אזרעה הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים הזרעים וְאֶזְרָעֵם֙ וְזָרַעְתִּ֗י וְזֹרְעֵ֖י וְזֹרֵ֥עַ וְנִזְרְעָ֥ה וְנִזְרַעְתֶּֽם׃ וַיִּזְרְע֣וּ וַיִּזְרַ֤ע וַיִּזְרָעֶ֖הָ וּזְרַעְתִּ֤יהָ וּזְרַעְתֶּ֖ם וּזְרַעְתֶּ֗ם וּזְרַעְתֶּ֤ם ואזרעם וזרע וזרעי וזרעתי וזרעתיה וזרעתם ויזרע ויזרעה ויזרעו ונזרעה ונזרעתם׃ זְרַ֣ע זְרַעְתֶּ֨ם זְרוּעָֽה׃ זִרְע֧וּ זִרְע֨וּ זָרְע֤וּ זָרַ֣ע זָרֻ֣עַ זֹרְעֵ֖י זֹרֵ֣עַ זֹרָ֔עוּ זוֹרֵ֙עַ֙ זוֹרֵ֣עַ זורע זרועה׃ זרע זרעו זרעי זרעתם יִזְרָ֑ע יִזְרָ֖עוּ יִזָּרֵ֑עַ יִזָּרַ֥ע יזרע יזרעו לִזְרֹ֑עַ לַזֹּרֵ֔עַ לזרע מַזְרִ֣יעַ מַזְרִ֤יעַ מזריע נִזְרָ֔ע נזרע תִּזְרְע֖וּ תִּזְרַ֖ע תִּזְרַ֣ע תִּזְרַע֙ תִּזְרָ֔ע תִּזְרָעֶֽנּוּ׃ תִזְרַ֖ע תִזְרַ֣ע תִזְרַ֥ע תִזְרָ֔ע תִזְרָ֔עוּ תִזְרָ֙עוּ֙ תִזָּרַע֙ תַזְרִ֔יעַ תזריע תזרע תזרעו תזרענו׃ ’ez·rə·‘āh ’ezrə‘āh Ezreah haz·zō·rə·‘îm hazzōrə‘îm hazzoreIm laz·zō·rê·a‘ lazzoRea lazzōrêa‘ liz·rō·a‘ lizRoa lizrōa‘ maz·rî·a‘ mazRia mazrîa‘ niz·rā‘ nizRa nizrā‘ ṯaz·rî·a‘ tazRia ṯazrîa‘ tiz·ra‘ tiz·rā‘ ṯiz·ra‘ ṯiz·rā‘ tiz·rā·‘en·nū ṯiz·rā·‘ū tiz·rə·‘ū ṯiz·zā·ra‘ tizRa tizra‘ tizrā‘ ṯizra‘ ṯizrā‘ tizrā‘ennū ṯizrā‘ū tizraEnnu tizRau tizrə‘ū tizreU tizzaRa ṯizzāra‘ ū·zə·ra‘·tem ū·zə·ra‘·tî·hā ūzəra‘tem ūzəra‘tîhā uzeraTem uzeraTiha vaiyizRa vaiyizraEha vaiyizreU veezraEm venizraTem venizreAh vezaraTi vezoRea vezoreEi way·yiz·ra‘ way·yiz·rā·‘e·hā way·yiz·rə·‘ū wayyizra‘ wayyizrā‘ehā wayyizrə‘ū wə’ezrā‘êm wə·’ez·rā·‘êm wə·niz·ra‘·tem wə·niz·rə·‘āh wə·zā·ra‘·tî wə·zō·rə·‘ê wə·zō·rê·a‘ wənizra‘tem wənizrə‘āh wəzāra‘tî wəzōrə‘ê wəzōrêa‘ yiz·rā‘ yiz·rā·‘ū yiz·zā·ra‘ yiz·zā·rê·a‘ yizRa yizrā‘ yizrā‘ū yizRau yizzaRa yizzāra‘ yizzaRea yizzārêa‘ zā·ra‘ zā·rə·‘ū zā·ru·a‘ zaRa zāra‘ zārə‘ū zareU zaRua zārua‘ zə·ra‘ zə·ra‘·tem zə·rū·‘āh zeRa zəra‘ zəra‘tem zeraTem zərū‘āh zeruAh zir‘ū zir·‘ū zirU zō·rā·‘ū zō·rə·‘ê zō·rê·a‘ zō·w·rê·a‘ zōrā‘ū zoRau zōrə‘ê zoRea zōrêa‘ zoreEi zōwrêa‘
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