זֶרַע

1. literal:
\ \ a. a sowing הַשָּׂדֶה ׳לְז 1 Mos 47,24 (J; + אָכְלְכֶם; otherwise 3 Mos 27,16 b, see below 2 c); ׳לֹא מְקוֺם ז 4 Mos 20,5 no place for sowing (J E; + וּתְאֵנָה וְגֶפֶן וְרִמּוֺן); compare ׳שְׂדֵה ז Ezk 17,5 a field suitable for sowing; hence
\ \ b. sowing as regularly recurring at its season 1 Mos 8,22 (J; || קָצִיר, + קֹר וָחֹם וְקַיִץ וָחֹרֶף וְיוֺם וָלַיְלָה), 3 Mos 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.) 1 Mos 47,19; 1 Mos 47,23 (J; compare v1 Mos 47,14f.), 4 Mos 24,7 (JE); נָתַן לַֹזּרֵעַ ׳ז Es 55,10 (|| לֶחֶם), 5 Mos 28,38 (רַב ׳ז), 3 Mos 26,16 (H; with זָרַע), 3 Mos 27,16 a, חֹמֶר שְׂעֹרִים ׳ז v3 Mos 27,16b (both P), compare Es 5,10.
\ \ b. figurative, of idolatry of Judah Es 17,11 (|| קציר); of fortunes of Zion ׳מֶשֶׁךְ הַזּ Sl 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 Es 30,23 (with זָרַע, || לֶחֶם תְּבוּאַתּ הָאֲדָמָה); also 5 Mos 11,10 (with זָרַע), Praed 11,6 (c. id.); זֵרוּעַ ׳ז 3 Mos 11,37, compare v3 Mos 11,38 (both P); as yielding the crop תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶ֑ךָ 5 Mos 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 Ezk 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 4 Mos 11,7 (JE), 2 Mos 16,31 (P); seed of herbs and trees 1 Mos 1,11 (twice in verse); 1 Mos 1,12 (twice in verse); 1 Mos 1,29 (twice in verse) (all P). Especially
\ \ d. seed as corn-product, corn-crop, so (although not quite clearly) 5 Mos 22,9 (with זָרַע; || תְּבוּאַת הַכָּ֑רֶם); plural 1 Sam 8,15 (perhaps better arable lands, compare above As zêru; || כרמים), הָאָרֶץ ׳ז 3 Mos 27,30 (|| פְּרִיעֵֿץ; otherwise 1 Mos 47,24, compare above 1 a); שִׁחֹר ׳ז Es 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 1 Kong 18,32.
\ \ e. זֶרַע הַשָּׁלוֺם הַגֶּפֶן Zak 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 1 Mos 1,11; 3 Mos 26,16; Jer 35,7 +; הִפְרִיחַ Es 17,11 נָתַן בְּ = plant, sow Ezk 17,5 נָתַן yield Es 55,10 מָשַׁךְ Amos 9,13.

3. seed = semen virile, וְנִזְרְעָה זָ֑רַע 4 Mos 5,28, and she shall be made pregnant with seed; usually ׳שִׁכְּבַתזֿ, flow of semen 3 Mos 22,4 (H), 3 Mos 15,16; 3 Mos 15,32 (P; all with תֵּצֵא), 3 Mos 15,17 (P; with הָיָה); as accusative modi שׁכב ׳ז ׳אתאִֿשָּׁה שׁ 3 Mos 19,20 (H), 3 Mos 15,18; 4 Mos 5,13 (both P); so also נתן שְׁכָבְתּוֺ לְזרע 3 Mos 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 1 Mos 3,15; 1 Mos 7,3 (both J). Usu.
\ \ b. of mankind, coll. = descendants, posterity; seed of the woman 1 Mos 3,15 (J); seed of the patriarchs (especially Abraham) 1 Mos 12,17; 1 Mos 13,15; 1 Mos 13,16 (twice in verse); 1 Mos 16,10; 1 Mos 22,17 (twice in verse); 1 Mos 22,18; 1 Mos 24,7; 1 Mos 26,3; 1 Mos 26,4 (3 t. in verse); 1 Mos 26,24; 1 Mos 28,13; 1 Mos 28,14 (twice in verse); 1 Mos 32,13 (all J), 1 Mos 15,13; 1 Mos 15,18; 2 Mos 32,13 (twice in verse); 2 Mos 33,1 (all J E), 1 Mos 21,12; Jos 24,3 (both E; in both promised seed of Abraham restricted to line of Isaac), 5 Mos 11,9; 5 Mos 34,4; Neh 9,8 = a son as involving posterity 1 Mos 15,3; 1 Mos 15,5 (JE) compare below; phrase זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם 5 Mos 1,8, compare 5 Mos 4,37; 5 Mos 10,15, so P, 1 Mos 17,7 (twice in verse); 1 Mos 17,8; 1 Mos 17,9; 1 Mos 17,10; 1 Mos 17,19; 1 Mos 35,12; 1 Mos 48,4 זִרְעֲךָ אִתָּךְ 1 Mos 28,4 (P; compare 4 Mos 18,19); see also below c. c. seed (= posterity) of other individuals 1 Mos 21,13 (E; of Ishmael) 1 Mos 24,60; 1 Mos 48,19 (both J), 4 Mos 14,24 (JE), 3 Mos 21,21; 3 Mos 22,3; 3 Mos 22,4 (all H), 4 Mos 17,5 (P), 1 Sam 20,42 (twice in verse); 1 Sam 24,22; 2 Sam 4,8; 1 Kong 2,33 (twice in verse); 1 Kong 11,39; 2 Kong 5,27; Jer 29,32; Ezk 43,19; Job 5,25 (|| צֶאֱצָאֶיךָ), Job 21,8 (|| id.); especially of seed of David as anointed to reign Sl 18,51 = 2 Sam 22,51 (|| לִמְשִׁיחוֺ), as sitting on throne Jer 33,21, compare vJer 33,22 vJer 33,26, Sl 89,5; Sl 89,30; Sl 89,37 of Jehoiachin Jer 22,28; Jer 22,30, Jehoiakim Jer 36,31 (compare vJer 36,30); of child (son) as involving posterity 1 Mos 38,8; 1 Mos 38,9 (twice in verse) (of Er's seed by Onam); 1 Mos 48,11 (all J), compare 1 Mos 19,32; 1 Mos 19,31 (J), 2 Sam 7,12; Rut 4,12; 3 Mos 21,15 (H); phrase זַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם of seed of Noah and his sons 1 Mos 9,9 of Aaron 2 Mos 28,43 of Phinehas 4 Mos 25,13 (all P); of David 1 Kron 17,11 לְזַרְעוֺ לְדֹרֹתָם 2 Mos 30,21 (P), compare 3 Mos 21,17 (H; both of Aaron), see also b above ׳ז, of seed of righteous, especially Psalms: — Sl 25,13; Sl 37,25; Sl 37,26; Sl 69,37; Sl 102,29 (|| בָּנִים), Sl 112,2 (|| דּוֺר ישׁרים), compare Sl 22,31 (on text see Che); of wicked Sl 21,11; Sl 37,28.
\ \ d. specifically of a particular child (son) אַחֵר ׳ז 1 Mos 4,25 (J); אֲנָשִׁים ׳ז 1 Sam 1,11 of children 3 Mos 18,21; 3 Mos 20,2; 3 Mos 20,34; 3 Mos 22,13 (all H), 1 Sam 2,20 (compare בָּנִים, בָּנוֺת1 Sam 2,21); children and grandchildren 1 Mos 46,6; 1 Mos 46,7 (P).
\ \ e. family 1 Mos 17,12 (P; compare Assyrian zêr bit abišu Asrb^{Annals iii. 10}); note especially of royal family הַמֶּלֶךְ ׳ז 1 Kong 11,14 הַמַּמְלָכָה ׳ז 2 Kong 11,1 = 2 Kron 22,10 הַמְּלוּכָה ׳ז 2 Kong 25,25 = Jer 41,1; Ezk 17,13; Dan 1,3 = pedigree בית אבותם וְזַרְעָם Ezr 2,59 = Neh 7,61 = one's nation, as of same blood Est 10,3 (|| עַם). — Some verbs used with ׳ז in these senses are: — נָתַן, God subject 1 Mos 15,3; Rut 4,12 (followed by מִן of woman); שִׂים 1 Sam 2,20 with man as subject נתן 1 Mos 38,9 הֵקִים v1 Mos 38,8 ׳חִיָּה ז, keep alive, or give life to, of animals 1 Mos 7,3 of woman 1 Mos 19,32; 1 Mos 19,34 (followed by מִן of man). feminine especially as name for people of Israel, seed of Abraham Es 41,8; 2 Kron 20,7 (|| עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל), Jer 33,26; Sl 105,6 (|| בְּנֵי יעקִב); of Israel or Jacob 2 Kong 17,20; Neh 9,2 (|| בני ישׂראל vNeh 9,1), Es 43,5; Es 45,19; Es 45,25; Jer 31,36; Jer 31,37; Jer 33,26; Sl 22,24 (twice in verse); 1 Kron 16,13 (|| בני יעקב); so בֵּית ישׂראל ׳ז Jer 23,8; Ezk 44,22 (ᵑ6 ᵐ5 Manuscripts Co strike out בית); בית ׳ז יעקב Ezk 20,5 in Esther. הַיְהוּדִים ׳ז Est 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: — 5 Mos 28,46; 5 Mos 28,59; 5 Mos 30,6; 5 Mos 30,19; 5 Mos 31,21, compare 4 Mos 18,19 (P; לְזַרְעֲךָ אִתָּ֑ךְ, || וּלְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנוֺתֶיךָ), Jer 30,10 = Jer 46,27 (Jacob and Israel here = people), Sl 106,27 || צֶאֱצָא(יך ׅ Es 44,3 (Jacob and Jeshurun), Es 48,19, compare Es 61,9 also Jer 7,15; Es 54,3; Es 66,22 (|| שִׁמְכֶם); מִפִּי זַרְעֲךָ וּמִפִּי זֶרַע זַרְעֲךָ Es 59,21 of Jews (יהודים) Est 9,27; Est 9,28; Est 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 Es 65,23 (|| צֶאֱצָאִים), compare Es 61,9; Es 65,9 הַקֹּדֶשׁ ׳ז Ezr 9,2 (of Israel), compare Es 53,10 note, in good sense צַדִּיקִים ׳ז Ord 11,21 (opposed to רַע); אֱמֶת ׳ז Jer 2,21 (|| שׂוֺרֵק); אלהים ׳ז Mal 2,15 — קֹדֶשׁ ׳ז Es 6,13 is a gloss; — in bad sense מְרֵעִים ׳ז Es 1,4 community of evil-doers (|| גּוֺיחֹֿטֵא, עַם כֶּבֶד עָוֺן, בָּנִים מַשְׁחִיתִים), Es 14,20 מְנָאֵף ׳ז Es 57,3 (|| בני עֹנֲנָה); שָֿׁ֑קֶר׳ז vEs 57,4 (|| יִלְדֵיפֶֿשַׁע).