Original Word: זָעַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: za`am
Pronunciation: zah-am
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-am')
Definition: to foam at the mouth, to be enraged
Meaning: To foam at the mouth, to be enraged

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G546 (ἀκαταστασία, akatastasia): Disorder, confusion, tumult
• G1863 (ἐπαίρω, epairō): To lift up, to exalt
• G2373 (θυμός, thymos): Passion, angry heat, wrath
• G2672 (κατακαίω, katakaiō): To burn up, consume
• G3404 (μισέω, miseō): To hate, detest
• G3710 (ὀργίζω, orgizō): To provoke, to anger

These Greek terms, while not direct translations, relate to the concept of anger and wrath, illustrating the broader biblical theme of divine and human responses to sin and injustice.

Usage: The verb זָעַם (za'am) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a state of intense anger or rage, often associated with divine wrath or human fury. It conveys the idea of being so angry that one metaphorically foams at the mouth.

Context: • The root זָעַם (za'am) appears in various contexts within the Hebrew Scriptures, often depicting the anger of God against sin and disobedience. It is a vivid term that illustrates the intensity of divine displeasure.
• In the Berean Standard Bible, this term is used to describe God's wrath in passages such as Isaiah 66:14: "The hand of the LORD will be made known to His servants, but His fury will be shown to His enemies."
• The term is also used in human contexts, as seen in Proverbs 22:14, where it describes the anger of a king: "The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it."
• The concept of divine anger is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where God's righteous indignation is portrayed as a response to covenant unfaithfulness and moral corruption. The use of זָעַם underscores the seriousness with which God views sin and the consequences that follow.
• Theologically, the term highlights the holiness and justice of God, who cannot tolerate sin and must act against it. It serves as a warning to the faithful to adhere to God's commandments and avoid incurring His wrath.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be indignant
NASB Translation
abhor (1), angry (1), become enraged (1), been indignant (1), cursed (2), denounce (2), denounced (1), indignant (2), indignation (1).

זָעַם verb be indignant (compare Aramaic (rare) blame, & noun ; Arabic onomatopoetic, of roar of camel, angry speech, see Frey, De on Psalm 7:12) — Perfect ׳ז Numbers 23:8 3t.; זָעַמְתָּה Zechariah 1:12; Imperfect אֶזְעֹם Numbers 23:8; 3plural suffix יִזְעָמוּהוּ Proverbs 24:24; Imperative זֹעֲמָה Numbers 23:7 (for זָָֽעָמֳה Ges^{§ 64}, (2)); Participle active זֹעֵם Psalm 7:12; passive construct זְעוּם Proverbs 22:14; feminine זְעוּמָה Micah 6:10; —

1 be indignant, have indignation, of hostile prince עַל בְּרִית קוֺדֶשׁ Daniel 11:30; elsewhere of Yahweh, who is אֵל זֹעֵם Psalm 7:12 ("" שׁוֺפֵט), with accusative of enemy Isaiah 66:14; cities of Judah Zechariah 1:12; people Malachi 1:4; a man Proverbs 22:14. 2 **[

2 is probably denominative from זַעַם (see Buhl).] express indignation in speech, denounce, curse "" יִקְּבֻהוּ Proverbs 24:24; "" אֶקֹּב and אָֽרָהֿ Numbers 23:7,8 (twice in verse) (E); זְעוּמָה אֵיפַת רָזוֺן Micah 6:10 an ephah of scantiness, denounced, or cursed.

Niph`al Participle plural מָּנִים נִזְעָמִים Proverbs 25:23 face stirred with indignation.

abhor, abominable, be angry, defy, have indignation

A primitive root; properly, to foam at the mouth, i.e. To be enraged -- abhor, abominable, (be) angry, defy, (have) indignation.

אֶזְעֹ֔ם אזעם וְזָעַ֖ם וְזָעַ֥ם וזעם זְע֥וּם זְעוּמָֽה׃ זָעַ֔מְתָּה זָעַ֖ם זָעַ֥ם זֹעֲמָ֥ה זֹעֵ֥ם זעום זעומה׃ זעם זעמה זעמתה יִזְעָמ֥וּהוּ יזעמוהו נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים נזעמים ’ez‘ōm ’ez·‘ōm ezOm niz‘āmîm niz·‘ā·mîm nizaMim vezaAm wə·zā·‘am wəzā‘am yiz‘āmūhū yiz·‘ā·mū·hū yizaMuhu zā‘am zā‘amtāh zā·‘am zā·‘am·tāh zaAm zaAmtah zə‘ūm zə‘ūmāh zə·‘ū·māh zə·‘ūm zeUm zeuMah zō‘ămāh zō‘êm zō·‘ă·māh zō·‘êm zoaMah zoEmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts