From an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. Yellow), as oil, a clear sky -- gold(-en), fair weather.
H2091. zahab
זָהָב385 noun masculineGenesis 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 6t.; suffix זְהָבִי 1 Kings 20:7 2t.; זְהָֽבְךָ 20:3, 5; זְהָבֶ֑ךָ Isaiah 30:22; זְהָבוֺ 2:20; 31:7; זְהָבָם Hosea 8:4 4t.; — gold,
1 = gold-ore, gold in a raw state, Genesis 2:11-12, Jeremiah 10:9; Proverbs 17:3; 27:21; Job 28:1 +; perhaps also 1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:49 etc.; compare ז ׳עַפְרֹת Job 28:6 gold-dust; see also Zechariah 13:9 (simile of tried people ׳י) and compare Malachi 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 Genesis 13:2 (J; + כֶּסֶף מִקְנֶה,) 24:34 (J; + חֲמֹרִים גְּמַלִּים, שְׁפָחֹת, עֲבָדִם, כֶּסֶף, בָּקָר, צאֹן,) compare Hosea 2:8; Isaiah 2:7; Deuteronomy 8:13; 17:17; Job 3:15; 31:24; Zechariah 14:14; Ezra 1:4, 6 +; in General, as precious: טוֺב חֵן וּמִזָּהָב מִכֶּסֶף רָ֑ב מֵעשֶׁר שֵׁם נִבְחָר Proverbs 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; Psalm 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 Lamentations 4:1 (compare 4:2).
3 gold as spoil of war Joshua 6:19 (+ בַּרְזֶל כְּלֵינְֿחשֶׁת, כֶּסֶף,) so 6:24, compare 7:21, 24; 22:8; 2 Kings 7:8 +.
4 gold as merchandise Ezekiel 27:22 (+ כָּלבּֿשֶֹׁם ראֹשׁ יְקָרָה, אֶבֶן), compare also gold from Ophir 1 Kings 9:28 etc. (see below 7 below)
5 gold as costly gift: to a prophet וְז כֶּסֶף בֵּיתוֺ ׳מְלֹא (hypothet.), Numbers 22:18; 24:13 (both E); brought by queen of Sheba to Solomon 1 Kings 10:2, 10 (both + יְקָרָה אֶבֶן and בְּשָׂמִים) = 2 Chronicles 9:1, 9; as tribute 2 Kings 23:35 (twice in verse) (compare 23:33; all + כֶּסֶף); as satisfaction for murder 2 Samuel 21:4 (+ כֶּסֶף).
6 gold as material: of (nose- or ear-) ring, נֶזֶם Genesis 24:22; Exodus 32:2-3, Judges 8:24-25, Proverbs 11:22; 25:12; Job 42:11; of chain Genesis 41:42, shields 2 Samuel 8:7, images of emerods 1 Samuel 6:4, 17 and mice 6:4; 6:11; 6:18; ז ׳תַּמּוּחֵי כֶּסֶף בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֺת Proverbs 25:11; ז ׳גֻּלַּת Exodus 12:6; ׳כְּלֵיזֿ 3:22; 11:2; 12:35; 1 Samuel 6:8; Psalm 105:37 etc.; זָהָב וּכְלֵי כְּלֵיכֶֿסֶף Genesis 24:53 as presents to a bride (+ בְּגָדִים); so of presents to secure king's favour 2 Samuel 8:10 (+ נְחשֶׁת כְּלֵי), and in list of yearly gifts or tribute to Solomon 1 Kings 10:25 2 Chronicles 9:24; as material of idols ז וֵאלֹהֵי ׳כֶסֶף אֱלֹהֵי Exodus 20:23; compare 32:31; Hosea 8:4; Isaiah 2:20; 30:22; 31:7; Deuteronomy 29:16; Psalm 115:4; 135:15; as plating of idols Deuteronomy 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 1 Kings 6:20-21, (3 t. in verse); 6:22 (twice in verse); 6:28; 7:48 10t. 6:7; also 2 Chronicles 3:5 (twice in verse); 3:6 14t. 3:4; cf 1 Chronicles 28:14 (twice in verse) + 14 t. 1 Chronicles 28:29 (David's preparation for temple); see also 2 Kings 24:13; compare 14:14 2 Chronicles 25:24; 2 Kings 25:15 = Jeremiah 52:19 (in accounts of plundering temple etc.); but more often still of furnishing and utensils of tabernacle, insignia of high-priest etc., Exodus 25:3, 11, 24 97t. Exodus 25-40, Leviticus 8:9; Numbers 4:11; 8:4; (in case of large objects frequently of plating or sheathing, compare 12c below) Note the expressions ז ׳תְּנוּפַת ליהוה Exodus 35:22 a wave-offering of gold, הַתְּנוּפָה זְהַב 38:24; also הַתְּרוּמָה זְהַב Numbers 31:52 (all P) compare Ezra 8:25, and (of offering to heathen god) בְּזָהָב יְכַבֵּד Daniel 11:38.
7 gold described by its source, especially gold from Ophir (compare Glass: Skizze ii. 357 ff. 368) 1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:49; 1 Chronicles 29:4; 2 Chronicles 8:18; 9:10; so perh Jeremiah 10:9 (read אוֺפִיר for אוּפַז Ew Klo and others); שְׁבָא זְהַב Psalm 72:15; on ׳ז מַּרְוָ֑יִם2 Chronicles 3:6 see פרוים; compare further Genesis 2:11-12,.
8 gold defined by var. adjective and pts.: ׳ז שָׁחוּט beaten gold (see שָׁחַט) 1 Kings 10:16-17, 2 Chronicles 9:15 (twice in verse); 9:16; ׳ז סָגוּר 1 Kings 6:20-21, also 7:49-50, 10:21 2 Chronicles 4:20, 22; 9:21 (on meaning see סָגַר); especially (but only P & Chronicles) ׳ז טָהוֺר pure gold Exodus 25:11, 17, 24 21t. Exodus 25.. 28. 30. 37. 39 (of equipments of tabernacle and high priest's insignia), 1 Chronicles 28:17; 2 Chronicles 3:4; 9:17; compare ׳ז טוֺב3:5, 8; on ׳ז מוּפָז 1 Kings 10:18, AV best gold, compare מָּזַז אוּפָז,.
9 ׳ז as measure of weight and value:
a. = gold-shekel, ז ׳עֲשָׂרָה מִשְׁקָלָם Genesis 24:22; ז עֲשָׂרָה אַחַת ׳כַּף Numbers 7:14 11t. Numbers 7; ז ׳וּשְׁבַעמֵֿאוֺת אֶלֶף Judges 8:26, compare 1 Kings 10:16; 2 Kings 5:5; 2 Chronicles 9:15-16, ז ׳אַלְפֵי וָכָ֑סֶף Psalm 119:72; compare further Joshua 7:21; but also (only Chronicles) שֶׁקֶל expressed: מֵאוֺת שֵׁשׁ ז ׳שִׁקְלֵי מִשְׁקַל 1 Chronicles 21:25 (50 shekels of silver in "" 2 Samuel 24:24); ז חֲמִשִּׁים לִשְׁקָלִים לְמִסְמְרוֺת ׳וּמִשְׁקָל2 Chronicles 3:9.
b. ז מָנִים ׳שְׁלשֶׁת 1 Kings 10:17 three minas of gold (see מָנֶה).
c. ז ׳כִּכַּר talent of gold 2 Samuel 12:30; 1 Kings 9:14 + (see כִּכָּר).
d. וָאֶלֶף שֵׁשׁרִֿבּאֹוֺת דַּרְכְּמוֺנִים זָהָב Ezra 2:69 compare Nehemiah 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 Isaiah 46:6 i.e. the gold used in making the god was the coin carried in the bag.
10 ׳ז = golden oil, from colour, Zechariah 4:12.
11 ׳ז often named with כֶּסֶף, and then, in earlier and sometimes in later writings, follows it: וּבַזָּהָב בַּכֶּסֶף Genesis 13:2 (J), compare 24:35, 53; 44:8 (all J) Exodus 3:22; 11:2; 12:35; Numbers 22:18; 24:13 (all E), Joshua 6:19, 24 (JE), Deuteronomy 7:25; 17:17; 29:16; 2 Samuel 8:11; 21:4; 1 Kings 7:51; 15:15, 18, 19; 2 Kings 7:8; 16:8; 18:14; 20:13; 23:33, 35 (twice in verse); Hosea 2:10; 8:4; Isaiah 2:7; 60:9; Jeremiah 10:4; Zephaniah 1:18; Ezekiel 7:19; 38:13; Zechariah 6:11; Joel 4:5, Proverbs 22:1; Psalm 105:37; 115:4; 135:15; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 5:1; Ezra 1:4; 8:25; Daniel 11:8; Ecclesiastes 2:8 +; in later writings ׳ז often precedes Ezekiel 28:4; Zechariah 14:14; Malachi 3:3; 1 Chronicles 18:10; 22:14, 16; 28:15-16, 29:3-4, 5, 7; 2 Chronicles 9:14, 21; 24:14; 25:24; Ezra 1:11; Psalm 119:72; Song of Solomon 1:11; Daniel 11:38 +, and so in P, Exodus 25:3; 31:4; 35:5, 32; Numbers 31:32; yet also as early as Habakkuk 2:19; 1 Kings 10:22; 2 Kings 25:15.
12 the chief verbs used with ׳ז are:
a. עָשָׂה make of (c. 2 accusative) 1 Kings 7:48 (compare 7:49; 7:49; 7:50; 7:50) 10:16; 12:28; 14:26; 2 Chronicles 4:7-8, 19; 12:9; 13:8, and especially in P (tabernacle) Exodus 25:11, 17, 18 35t. Exodus 25-39; also followed by בְּ work in gold, בַּזּ ׳לַעֲשׂוֺת וּבַנְּחשֶׁת וּבַכֶּסֶף 31:4; 35:32, also (+ בַּבַּרְזֶל, etc.), 2 Chronicles 2:6; 2:13;
b. יָצַק (object ז ׳טַבְּעֹת) Exodus 25:12; 37:3, 13 (all P);
c. צִמָּה overlay with (c. 2 accusative) 1 Kings 6:20-21, (twice in verse); 6:22, 28, 30, 32, 35 (6:32; 6:35 one accusative omitted), 10:18; 2 Chronicles 3:4, 10; 9:17, and especially P (tabernacle) Exodus 25:11, 13, 24, 28 15t. Exodus 26-37; in same sense
d. ז ׳וַיְחַמֵּהוּ2 Chronicles 3:5 compare 3:7; 3:8; 3:9, and
e. ז ׳תָּפוּשׂ וָכֶסֶף Habakkuk 2:19 encased in gold and silver; also
f. ׳בַּזּ יְרַקְּעֶנּוּ Isaiah 40:19;
g. רדד Hiph`il, אֶתהַֿזּ וְעַלהַֿתִּמֹּרוֺת עַלהַֿכְּרוּבִים ׳וַיָּ֫רֶב 1 Kings 6:32 and he spread upon the cherubim and upon the palm-trees the gold; further
h. בָּחַן try, Zechariah 13:9; compare
i. זִקַּק Malachi 3:3. — On זָהָב דִּי, proper name; on זָהָב מֵי proper name see below מַיִם.