Original Word: זָכָר
Part of Speech: noun masculine; Adjective
Transliteration: zakar
Pronunciation: zah-KAR
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-kawr')
KJV: X him, male, man(child, -kind)
NASB: male, males, man, boy
Word Origin: [from H2142 (זָכַר - remember)]

1. (properly) remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex)

him, male, manchild,

From zakar; properly, remembered, i.e. A male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex) -- X him, male, man(child, -kind).

see HEBREW zakar

Word Origin
from zakar
Definition
male
NASB Translation
boy (2), intimately* (3), male (56), males (19), man (4).

זָכָר noun masculine &

adjective male (Assyrian zikaru, zikru, COT^Gloss Lyon^{Manual, Gloss}; Arabic ; Aramaic דִּכְרָא, ; Sabean רם[כ]דֿ DHM^{ZMG 1876, 675}; relation to above √ obscure; male as mentioned, talked of, Lane^969f.; from assumed original sense be sharp (traces of this in Arabic: see Lane), Bö^{Prob 207} Fl in ChWB^{i. 422}, compare Arabic male organ; Schw^{ZAW 1891, 176 ff.} **(against Schwally's view see JPeritz^{Woman in the Ancient Hebrew Cult, JBL xvii {1898}, 111 ff}.) from זָכַר = call upon in worship; hence male as competent to worship) — always absolute ׳ז Genesis 1:27 +; plural (ה)זְכָרִים Exodus 13:12 +; see also [זָכוּר]: —

I. substantive male, offspring of men and animals Exodus 13:12,15 (plural, both J E); opposed to נְקֵבָה Deuteronomy 4:16; specifically 1 of men:

a. in phrase אישׁ לְמִשְׁכַב זָכָר אשׁר לא יָָֽדְעָה Judges 21:12 (Bu^{RS 153} Dr^{Intr. 151}), compare Judges 21:11, Numbers 31:17,18,35 (all 3 P); צַלְמֵי זָכָר Ezekiel 16:17.

b. alone = man Jeremiah 30:6 (רְאוּ אִםיֹֿלֵד זָכָ֑ר "" גֶּבֶר); usually collective, men, male persons (of all ages) Judges 21:11; 1 Kings 11:15,16; Genesis 34:25; Leviticus 6:11; Leviticus 6:22; Leviticus 7:6; Numbers 1:2,20,22; Numbers 3:28,34,39; Numbers 18:10; Numbers 26:62; Numbers 31:7,17 (all P); plural (ה)זכרים2Chronicles 31:16; Ezra 8:3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14, so also Joshua 5:4 ("" העם כלֿ, and כלאֿנשׁי המלחמה), Joshua 17:2 (gloss? compare Dr^{Intr. 104}); especially of individual, in connection with circumcision Genesis 17:10,12,14,23; Genesis 34:15,22,24; Exodus 12:48 (all P); of male child Leviticus 12:2 (P) Isaiah 66:7; opposed to נְקֵבָה Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:2; Leviticus 12:7 (child) Leviticus 15:33; Leviticus 27:3,5,6,7; Numbers 5:3 (all P; compare Sabean אנתֿים פאו דֿ(כ)רם DHM^l.c.); opposed to אִשָּׁה in command ag. sodomy Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13 (both H).

2 of animals, especially for sacrifice Exodus 34:19 (J E; read הַזָּכָר for ᵑ0 תִּזָּכָר); Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 1:3,10; Leviticus 4:23 (all P) Leviticus 22:19 (H), Malachi 1:14; opposed to נְקֵבָה Genesis 6:19; Genesis 7:3,9,16; Leviticus 3:1,6 (all P).

II. adjective singular male (only human beings) ׳יֻלַּדלְֿךָ בֵּן ז Jeremiah 20:15; ׳כָּלבְּֿכֹר ז Numbers 3:40,43 (both P).

Definition and Scope of Usage

Strong’s Hebrew term 2145 זָכָר designates a male—whether man, boy, or male animal. It appears in narrative, legal, genealogical, liturgical, and poetic contexts across the Hebrew Scriptures, roughly eighty-two times. The word marks biological sex, establishes ritual qualifications, frames inheritance rights, and contributes to typological contours that anticipate the ultimate Male Son, Jesus Christ.

Creation and Divine Order

From the outset, the term signals God’s intentional design of humanity in two complementary sexes.

• Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
• Genesis 5:2 – “He created them male and female, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them ‘man.’”

These foundational texts establish male identity as part of the imago Dei, not a cultural accident. Gender difference is therefore a creational good, providing the framework for marriage, dominion, and the multiplication mandate (Genesis 1:28).

Covenantal Significance

1. Circumcision

Genesis 17:10–14 commands that “every male among you must be circumcised,” making זָכָר the locus of covenant sign and responsibility. The males bear in their flesh the token of belonging to Yahweh, prefiguring the heart-circumcision promised in Deuteronomy 30:6 and fulfilled by the Spirit (Romans 2:29).

2. Firstborn Consecration

Exodus 13:2 – “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male.” The male firstborn represents the whole family before God, recalling the substitutionary redemption of Israel’s sons at Passover and foreshadowing the unique Firstborn Son (Colossians 1:15).

3. Priestly Counting

Numbers 3:15 ties the census of Levites to “every male a month old or more,” reinforcing male headship in cultic service.

Sacrificial and Cultic Requirements

• Exodus 12:5 – “Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male.”
• Leviticus 1:3 – “If one’s offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male.”

The demand for an unblemished male offering heightens the value of substitution: the costliest member of the flock yields life for the worshiper. Malachi later indicts those who violate this principle:

Malachi 1:14 – “But cursed is the deceiver who has in his flock a male that is unblemished, yet makes a vow and sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord!”

These sacrificial males typify Jesus Christ, the sinless Son offered “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

Genealogical and Inheritance Concerns

Biblical genealogies frequently employ זָכָר to distinguish male offspring, underscoring paternal lines through which covenant promises run (e.g., Genesis 6:19; Exodus 34:19). Property inheritance, tribal allotments, and royal succession typically pass through sons, shaping Israel’s social structure and preserving messianic expectancy.

Royal and Messianic Associations

Isaiah and Jeremiah use male imagery to anticipate David’s righteous Branch (Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:5). Though זָכָר itself is not in those verses, the broader male motif directs attention to the promised Son whose kingship fulfills 2 Samuel 7:14. The lineage lists of Chronicles and Matthew hinge on male succession, yet also highlight God’s sovereign grace by including women, revealing the fullness of redemption.

Ethical and Social Dimensions

Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 prohibit sexual relations with a male as with a woman, affirming biblical sexual ethics rooted in creation order. Conversely, provisions like Deuteronomy 15:19—regarding firstborn males of herd and flock—combine devotion with compassion, as such animals sustain priestly livelihood.

Representative Occurrences

– Genesis 7:3; 17:23

– Exodus 13:12–15; 34:19

– Leviticus 4:23; 6:18; 12:2; 27:3

– Numbers 1:2; 18:10

– Deuteronomy 12:6

– Judges 21:22

– Ezekiel 34:31

Implications for Ministry Today

1. Upholding Creational Distinctions

Teaching and counseling must honor the God-given difference of male and female as essential, not optional, to human flourishing and doctrinal fidelity.

2. Modeling Sacrificial Leadership

Old Testament emphasis on unblemished male offerings culminates in Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Male leaders in home and church are called to similar self-giving love (Ephesians 5:25).

3. Guarding Sexual Holiness

The ethical boundaries marked by זָכָר inform pastoral care, discipleship, and cultural engagement regarding sexuality and gender debates.

4. Celebrating Redemptive Headship

While male representation pervades Scripture, redemption gathers “every tribe and tongue” without erasing sexual distinction (Revelation 5:9). The church proclaims a gospel that dignifies both sexes under Christ, the ultimate Son who restores creation’s harmony.

Thus, Strong’s 2145 זָכָר weaves through Scripture as a thread of creation order, covenant privilege, sacrificial typology, and messianic promise, inviting God’s people to live in the fullness of His wise design.

הַזְּכָרִ֔ים הַזְּכָרִ֖ים הַזְּכָרִ֜ים הַזְּכָרִֽים׃ הַזָּכָ֔ר הַזָּכָ֖ר הזכר הזכרים הזכרים׃ זָכָ֑ר זָכָ֔ר זָכָ֕ר זָכָ֖ר זָכָ֗ר זָכָ֛ר זָכָ֜ר זָכָ֞ר זָכָ֣ר זָכָ֥ר זָכָ֨ר זָכָֽר׃ זָכָר֙ זכר זכר׃ לִזְכָרִ֖ים לִזְכָרִ֗ים לַזָּכָ֖ר לזכר לזכרים מִזָּכָ֤ר מזכר haz·zā·ḵār haz·zə·ḵā·rîm hazzaChar hazzāḵār hazzechaRim hazzəḵārîm laz·zā·ḵār lazzaChar lazzāḵār liz·ḵā·rîm lizchaRim lizḵārîm miz·zā·ḵār mizzaChar mizzāḵār zā·ḵār zaChar zāḵārInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts