Meaning of Zayin (ז) Hebrew Letter

Zayin is the seventh Hebrew letter and carries the z sound. Traditional pictographic teaching associates its older form with a weapon or cutting implement.

Pronunciation and form

Pronounced: ZAH-yin. Sound: z. A z consonant

Traditional meaning and association

Zayin is traditionally associated with Weapon; related teaching associations include Cut / Remember. These traditional pictures should be distinguished from the letter’s role as a consonant in actual Hebrew words.

Biblical Hebrew word examples

זכר (Zakhar) — Remember Exodus 20:8
זרע (Zera) — Seed Genesis 1:11
זהב (Zahav) — Gold Genesis 2:12
זבח (Zevach) — Sacrifice Genesis 31:54

Scripture connections and Messiah

זרע — ZERA · SEED
Zayin begins zera, seed. Galatians 3:16 centers the promised seed in Messiah.
Galatians 3:16
זכר — ZAKHAR · REMEMBER
Zayin begins zakhar, remember. Jesus commands His disciples to remember Him in the bread and cup.
Luke 22:19

Psalm 119 study passage

The acrostic stanza for Zayin is Psalm 119:49–56. Read the first verse of this stanza in the TOC Bible reader.