Original Word: זָנָב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: zanab
Pronunciation: zah-NAHV
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-nawb')
Definition: To tail, to attack the rear
Meaning: the tail

tail

From zanab (in the original sense of flapping); the tail (literally or figuratively) -- tail.

see HEBREW zanab

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
tail, end, stump
NASB Translation
stubs (1), tail (9), tails (1).

זָנָב noun masculine^{Judges 15:4} tail, also (figurative) end, stump (Late Hebrew id., Assyrian zibbatu Hom^{NS 368}, Ethiopic Arabic , Aramaic , דּוּנְבָּא, דַּנְבָּא) — ׳ז absolute Judges 15:4 (twice in verse) + 5 t.; suffix זְנָבוֺJob 40:17; plural זְנָבוֺת Judges 15:4; construct זַנְבוֺת Isaiah 7:4; —

1. a. tail of fox Judges 15:4 (3 t. in verse), of serpent Exodus 4:4 (J), of hippopotamus Job 40:17;

b. figurative of common people, opposed to rulers Isaiah 9:13; Isaiah 19:15 (in both, ראֹשׁ וְזָנָב, "" כִּמָּה וְאַגְמוֺן; Isaiah 9:14 is incorrect gloss); of subject-people (opposed to ראֹשׁ) Deuteronomy 28:13,44.

2 end, stump (of firebrand, אוּד) in metaphor Isaiah 7:4.

Word Origin: Derived from a root that is not used in the Hebrew Bible, but it is related to the concept of trailing or being at the end.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek term for "tail" is found in Strong's Greek Number G3769, οὐρά (oura), which also means "tail." This term is used in the New Testament, particularly in the Book of Revelation, to describe the tails of various creatures in apocalyptic visions, such as in Revelation 9:10: "They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months." The Greek term carries similar connotations of a trailing or following part, often used in symbolic or metaphorical contexts.

Usage: The word "zanab" appears in various contexts within the Hebrew Bible, often describing the physical tail of an animal. It is also used metaphorically to describe a position of inferiority or subordination, as in being the "tail" rather than the "head."

Context: The Hebrew word זָנָב (zanab) is used in the Old Testament to denote the tail of an animal. It appears in several passages, illustrating both literal and figurative meanings. For instance, in Deuteronomy 28:13, the term is used metaphorically to describe a position of subordination: "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you will only move upward and never downward, if you hear and carefully follow the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am giving you today." This passage contrasts the blessings of obedience with the curses of disobedience, where being the "tail" signifies a lower status. In Isaiah 9:14, the term is used to describe leaders who mislead the people: "So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day." Here, "tail" symbolizes false prophets or leaders who lead the people astray. The literal use of "zanab" can be seen in Exodus 4:4, where Moses is instructed to grab the tail of a serpent. The word is also used in the context of military defeat, as in Joshua 10:19, where the Israelites are instructed to pursue their enemies and not allow them to return to their cities, metaphorically cutting off their "tail" or rear guard.

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