Original Word: זָעַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: za`am
Pronunciation: zah-am
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-am')
KJV: abhor, abominable, (be) angry, defy, (have) indignation
NASB: cursed, denounce, indignant, abhor, angry, become enraged, been indignant
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to foam at the mouth, i.e. to be enraged

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.

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.

Semantic Range and Theological Emphasis

זָעַם depicts intense displeasure that moves beyond emotional irritation into decisive judgment. Scripture presents this anger as righteous when it proceeds from the covenant Lord and sinful when it characterizes rebellious people. The term therefore serves as a moral barometer, revealing the boundary between holy wrath and human presumption.

Representative Old Testament Contexts

• Numbers 23:7–8 introduces the verb on Balaam’s lips: “From Aram Balak brought me… ‘Come, curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel!’ ” Balaam confesses that he cannot זָעַם those whom God has not זָעַם. The scene underscores divine prerogative: only the Lord may justly denounce.
• Psalm 7:11 anchors the divine attribute: “God is a righteous Judge and a God who shows indignation every day.” The daily expression of זָעַם guards the moral fabric of creation.
• Isaiah 66:14 describes end-time vindication: “The hand of the Lord will be revealed to His servants, but His indignation will be shown to His enemies.” Here זָעַם distinguishes servants from adversaries as history closes.
• Daniel 11:30 marks a strategic turn in Antiochus IV’s career: “He will turn back and vent his rage against the holy covenant.” Human זָעַם sets itself against the covenant community, previewing larger patterns of antichrist opposition.
• Zechariah 1:12 records the Angel of the Lord’s intercession after seventy years of divine זָעַם on Jerusalem, demonstrating that wrath has limits and mercy has an appointed hour.

Pattern of Usage in Wisdom Literature

Proverbs employs the verb to warn against aligning with God’s judicial anger. “The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; he who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it” (Proverbs 22:14). Later proverbs (24:24; 25:23) link unjust acquittal and talebearing to divine indignation. Wisdom thus treats זָעַם as a predictable consequence of moral folly.

Prophetic Implications

The prophets embed זָעַם within covenant lawsuit motifs. Micah 6:10 decries fraudulent measures that provoke the Lord’s wrath, while Malachi 1:4 warns Edom that rebuilding efforts cannot withstand the verdict “They may build, but I will demolish.” The term frames judgment oracles, vindicating God’s holiness and defending oppressed remnant communities.

Christological and Eschatological Considerations

Though the verb itself does not appear in the New Testament, its theological trajectory converges on the cross, where divine wrath against sin is satisfied (Romans 3:25-26). The future Day of the Lord will again unveil righteous wrath, echoing Isaiah 66:14. Believers therefore interpret Old Testament זָעַם through the lens of substitutionary atonement and final judgment, situating every episode within God’s redemptive plan.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Preaching: Texts containing זָעַם compel proclamation of both God’s holiness and His offer of grace.
2. Counseling: Understanding righteous indignation guards against counseling that excuses sin or misrepresents God as indifferent.
3. Corporate Worship: Lament and confession songs gain depth when informed by passages such as Psalm 7:11, guiding congregations toward reverent fear and hope.
4. Social Ethics: Prophetic uses of זָעַם demand advocacy for justice, exposing systems that invite divine displeasure.

Summary

זָעַם threads through Torah, Writings, and Prophets to affirm that the Holy One reacts decisively to covenant violation while providing a path to mercy. Its twelve occurrences sketch a consistent portrait: divine indignation is never capricious, always moral, ultimately redemptive, and should drive God’s people toward repentance, faith, and faithful obedience.

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