Lexical Summary
zaam: Indignation, wrath, anger
Original Word: זַעַם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: za`am
Pronunciation: zah-am
Phonetic Spelling: (zah'-am)
KJV: angry, indignation, rage
NASB: indignation, insolence
Word Origin: [from H2194 (זָעַם - cursed)]
1. strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
angry, indignation, rage
From za'am; strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin) -- angry, indignation, rage.
see HEBREW za'am
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
zaamDefinitionindignation
NASB Translationindignation (21), insolence (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Isaiah 10:25 ; —
Isaiah 10:25 7t.;
Isaiah 26:20 2t.; suffix
Isaiah 10:5 3t.;
Psalm 102:11;
Psalm 38:4;
Psalm 69:25;
Isaiah 13:5 3t.; —
indignation of men
Hosea 7:16;
Jeremiah 15:17; elsewhere of
Isaiah 26:20;
Isaiah 30:27;
Nahum 1:6;
Habakkuk 3:12;
Psalm 38:4;
Psalm 102:11;
Daniel 11:36; ""
Psalm 69:25;
Zephaniah 3:8; ""
Psalm 78:49;
Ezekiel 21:36;
Ezekiel 22:31; ""
Jeremiah 10:10;
Psalm 102:11; ""
Isaiah 10:5,25;
Isaiah 30:27; compare
Lamentations 2:6;
Psalm 69:25;
Ezekiel 21:36;
Ezekiel 22:31;
Zephaniah 3:8;
Isaiah 13:5;
Jeremiah 50:25;
Ezekiel 22:24;
Daniel 8:19.
Topical Lexicon
Concept and Scope זַעַם depicts intense divine indignation that breaks forth against covenant violation, idolatry, social injustice, and arrogant world-powers. The word focuses on God’s settled, righteous anger rather than momentary irritation; it is the fury of holiness offended and justice awakened.
Literary Distribution
The twenty-one Old Testament appearances stretch from Davidic laments (Psalm 38:3; 69:24) to exilic prophecy (Ezekiel 22:31) and apocalyptic vision (Daniel 8:19; 11:36). Most occur in prophetic books, underscoring a preacher’s burden to announce judgment and a shepherd’s call to lead toward repentance.
Covenant Framework
1. Personal discipline within the covenant community (Psalm 38:3; 102:10; Hosea 7:16).
2. National chastisement for collective sin (Psalm 78:49; Isaiah 10:5; Lamentations 2:6).
3. Universal judgment that brings history to its climax (Isaiah 13:5; Zephaniah 3:8).
God’s wrath functions as the reverse side of covenant love: the same faithfulness that blesses obedience also confronts rebellion.
Representative Passages
Psalm 69:24 – “Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.” David appeals to the Lord as righteous Judge when human courts fail.
Isaiah 10:25 – “For in just a very little while My indignation against you will be spent and My anger will turn to their destruction.” Wrath is neither capricious nor endless; it is purposeful, measured, and ultimately exhausted.
Nahum 1:6 – “Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger?” The prophet magnifies the awesome force of wrath against Nineveh, warning every empire that presumes invincibility.
Daniel 8:19 – “I am about to tell you what will happen later, in the time of wrath…” The word anchors eschatological expectation: a future season when God’s fury will expose and remove evil on a global scale.
Zephaniah 3:8 – “For My decision is to gather nations… to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger.” Indignation climaxes in a gathered judgment leading to the purification of the earth.
Agents and Instruments
God may unleash wrath directly (Habakkuk 3:12) or through secondary means—Assyria as “the rod of My anger” (Isaiah 10:5), Babylon as the hammer that turns to be broken (Jeremiah 50:25), natural calamity (Psalm 78:49), warfare (Isaiah 13:5), and consuming fire (Ezekiel 22:31). These agents never operate autonomously; they execute the divine decree and are afterward held accountable for excess or pride.
Eschatological Trajectory
Daniel and Zephaniah broaden the term from historical judgments to the “time of wrath” at the end of days. Wrath and redemption interlock: indignation removes wickedness so the kingdom of righteousness can flourish (Zephaniah 3:9-20).
Pastoral and Homiletical Implications
• Preaching that ignores wrath undermines the gospel’s gravity; preaching that dwells on wrath without mercy distorts God’s character.
• Discipline, whether personal or corporate, should be interpreted through a biblical lens of loving correction (Psalm 38:3).
• Prayer may invoke indignation against persistent evil (Psalm 69:24) while simultaneously pleading for mercy (Isaiah 10:25).
Christological Fulfillment
The New Testament reveals that wrath is not dismissed but borne by the Messiah (Romans 3:25). The cross satisfies זַעַם for all who trust in Christ, while Revelation portrays wrath still awaiting unrepentant humanity. Thus the term drives both evangelism—“flee from the coming wrath”—and doxology—“saved from wrath through Him.”
Summary
זַעַם is the fierce, holy indignation of God that opposes sin, purifies His people, topples arrogant nations, and prepares creation for final renewal. It is as much a testament to divine faithfulness as are love and compassion, compelling reverence, repentance, and confident hope in the completed work of Christ and the coming day when righteousness will dwell on earth.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּזַ֖עַם בְּזַֽעַם־ בזעם בזעם־ הַזָּ֑עַם הזעם וָזַ֣עַם וזעם זַ֔עַם זַ֖עַם זַֽעַמְךָ֥ זַעְמ֑וֹ זַעְמ֔וֹ זַעְמִ֔י זַעְמִֽי׃ זַעְמִי֙ זַעְמֶ֑ךָ זַעְמֽוֹ׃ זַעְמוֹ֙ זָֽעַם׃ זעם זעם׃ זעמו זעמו׃ זעמי זעמי׃ זעמך מִזַּ֣עַם מזעם bə·za·‘am bə·za·‘am- bəza‘am bəza‘am- bezaam haz·zā·‘am hazzā‘am hazZaam miz·za·‘am mizza‘am mizZaam vaZaam wā·za·‘am wāza‘am za‘·me·ḵā za‘·mî za‘·mōw za‘am zā‘am za‘amḵā za‘meḵā za‘mî za‘mōw za·‘am zā·‘am za·‘am·ḵā Zaam zaamCha zaMecha zaMi zaMo
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
