Hebrew word · H2154

זִמָּה

zimah

wickedness

From zamam, 'to plan, purpose, devise'. It means a scheme or purpose, usually an evil one. In the Law it often means a shameful sexual act, especially incest or prostitution (Lev 18:17; 19:29; 20:14; Judg 20:6).

Appears 29 times in 27 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) plan, device, wickedness, evil plan, mischievous purpose

1a) plan, purpose

1b) evil device, wickedness

1c) not chaste, incest, licentiousness, adultery, idolatry, harlotry

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Proverbs 21:27

Range of meaning

From zamam, 'to plan, purpose, devise'. It means a scheme or purpose, usually an evil one. In the Law it often means a shameful sexual act, especially incest or prostitution (Lev 18:17; 19:29; 20:14; Judg 20:6). In Wisdom and the Psalms it means a calculated evil plan (Prov 10:23; 24:9; Ps 26:10; Isa 32:7).

Against the English

KJV 'with a wicked mind' and NLT 'wrong motives' make it about an inner attitude. Most modern versions use 'evil intent', which is closer, but the Hebrew stresses a deliberate plan: the sacrifice is part of a scheme.

How it drifted

Translators tend to turn the word inward, into a matter of feelings and motives. The Hebrew looks at what the person is planning to achieve.

Used elsewhere in the period

Proverbs 10:23 (doing zimmah is like a game to a fool) and 24:9 (the 'scheming of folly' is sin). The Greek translation renders it here with an adverb, paranomōs ('lawlessly'), and the Vulgate with ex scelere ('from crime').

From the study of Proverbs 24:9

Range of meaning

From the root zmm, 'to plan, purpose, devise'. The range runs from a neutral 'purpose, plan' (Job 17:11, 'my plans are broken off') to an 'evil device, wicked intent' (Isa 32:7; Ps 26:10; Prov 21:27, 'brought with evil intent'), and in the legal and prophetic books 'lewdness, depravity', especially sexual outrage such as incest or prostitution of a daughter (Lev 18:17; 19:29; 20:14; Judg 20:6; often in Ezek 16 and 23). What ties these together is premeditated, deliberate wickedness rather than an accident.

Against the English

KJV and YLT say 'thought', which today sounds passive, like any idea that crosses the mind. BSB/NIV/WEB say 'scheme(s)' and ESV/NASB 'devising'; these keep the sense of planning on purpose.

How it drifted

In 1611 'thought' could carry the sense of intent or design. Modern English 'thought' is much broader and weaker, so readers can take the KJV line as a claim about stray mental content.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Proverbs only at 10:23 ('doing zimmah is like a game to a fool'), 21:27, and here. The related noun məzimmah is used both for 'discretion' (Prov 1:4; 2:11, good planning) and for 'evil schemes' (12:2; 14:17; 24:8), which shows that planning itself is neutral and what it serves decides its character. The LXX does not render the word directly here (see textual notes).

From the study of Ezekiel 23:35

Range of meaning

From zāmam, 'to plan, devise, purpose.' It can mean a plan or intention (Job 17:11), wicked scheming (Isa 32:7; Prov 21:27), and especially a deliberate, shameful outrage. In the Holiness laws it names sexual acts that wreck the order of the family: sex with a woman and her daughter (Lev 18:17; 20:14), or prostituting one's own daughter (Lev 19:29). Judg 20:6 uses it of the Gibeah atrocity.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, ESV, NASB, and NIV have 'lewdness'. BSB has 'indecency' and YLT 'wickedness'. 'Lewdness' captures the sexual side but loses the element of deliberate planning, and in modern English it tends to mean crude or vulgar behaviour.

How it drifted

'Lewd' originally meant 'base, wicked' and only later narrowed to sexual vulgarity. Today it sounds like bad taste rather than a planned outrage.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezekiel uses it more than any other book: 16:27, 43, 58; 22:9, 11; 23:21, 27, 29, 35, 44, 48, 49; 24:13. The Septuagint renders it with several words, including words for impiety and lawlessness. In the Dead Sea Scrolls it is used for wicked plotting.

Where it appears

Leviticus · 4

  1. Leviticus 18:17 זִמָּ֥ה [is] wickedness

    You must not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. You are not to marry her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives; it is depraved.

  2. Leviticus 19:29 זִמָּֽה׃ wickedness

    You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.

  3. Leviticus 20:14 זִמָּ֣ה זִמָּ֖ה [is] wickedness, wickedness

    If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is depraved. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that there will be no depravity among you.

Judges · 1

  1. Judges 20:6 זִמָּ֥ה wickedness

    Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.

Job · 2

  1. Job 17:11 זִמֹּתַ֣י plans my

    My days have passed; my plans are broken off—even the desires of my heart.

  2. Job 31:11 זִמָּ֑ה [is] wickedness

    For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.

Psalms · 2

  1. Psalm 26:10 זִמָּ֑ה wickedness

    in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

    Here: A deliberately planned wrong. The word comes from a root meaning 'to plan, plot', and it often describes shameful, outrageous conduct. Here it means wickedness that was thought out ahead of time.

  2. Psalm 119:150 זִמָּ֑ה <of> wickedness

    Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Your law.

    Here: A plotted, deliberate evil: scheming and malicious purpose. Read with the standard Hebrew vowels, it is what the pursuers are pursuing: 'pursuers of scheming.' Read with the Greek translation, it describes how they hunt the psalmist: 'with wicked intent.' Either way the stress falls on malice that has been planned in advance.

Proverbs · 3

  1. Proverbs 10:23 זִמָּ֑ה wickedness

    The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

  2. Proverbs 21:27 בְזִמָּ֥ה in wickedness

    The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!

    Here: From a root meaning 'to plan, devise': a deliberate scheme, usually a wicked one. The preposition 'with' or 'in' means the offering is brought as part of a plan, so the worship becomes a tool for some calculated end.

  3. Proverbs 24:9 זִמַּ֣ת a plan of

    A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.

    Here: Deliberate plotting: a plan worked out on purpose, not a passing thought. It picks up the 'schemer' (literally 'master of schemes', from the same root) in verse 8, so verse 9 says what such plotting really amounts to.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 32:7 זִמּ֣וֹת evil purposes

    The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.

    Here: Deliberate plans, here clearly wicked ones: thought-out plots, not impulsive wrongdoing. Elsewhere the same word can mean lewdness or depravity, but here it means scheming.

Jeremiah · 1

  1. Jeremiah 13:27 זִמַּ֣ת [the] wickedness of

    Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields—I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?”

    Here: "The lewdness of." In the Law this word names grave sexual wrongs (Leviticus 18:17; 19:29; 20:14). It comes from a verb meaning 'to plan.' This is not a slip. It is wrongdoing someone intended.

Ezekiel · 14

  1. Ezekiel 16:27 זִמָּֽה׃ licentiousness

    Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct.

    Here: Placed bluntly after "your way" as a label: "your way, which is sheer depravity." The word is used for deliberate, shameless sexual wrongdoing, here standing for Jerusalem's betrayal of her covenant.

  2. Ezekiel 16:43 הַזִּמָּ֔ה the licentiousness

    Because you did not remember the days of your youth, but enraged Me with all these things, I will surely bring your deeds down upon your own head, declares the Lord GOD. Have you not committed this lewdness on top of all your other abominations?

    Here: 'The depravity.' The word comes from a root meaning to plan or devise. It is the law's word for the most outrageous sexual crimes (Lev 18:17), and here it means deliberate, shameless betrayal of the marriage covenant.

  3. Ezekiel 16:58 זִמָּתֵ֥ךְ licentiousness your

    You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the LORD.

  4. Ezekiel 22:9 זִמָּ֖ה licentiousness

    Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.

    Here: A deliberate, shameful wickedness. In the Leviticus laws behind this chapter it names gross sexual crimes such as incest and prostitution (Leviticus 18:17; 19:29; 20:14). It works as a heading for the sexual offences listed in 22:10–11.

  5. Ezekiel 22:11 בְזִמָּ֑ה in wickedness

    One man commits an abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another wickedly defiles his daughter-in-law; and yet another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter.

    Here: 'In/with zimmah': deliberate, scheming depravity, especially sexual. The word comes from a root meaning 'to plan'. It suggests the act was intended and calculated, not a lapse. Leviticus 20:14 and 18:17 use it for incest within the household.

  6. Ezekiel 23:21 זִמַּ֣ת [the] licentiousness of

    So you revisited the indecency of your youth, when the Egyptians caressed your bosom and pressed your young breasts.

  7. Ezekiel 23:27 זִמָּתֵךְ֙ licentiousness your

    So I will put an end to your indecency and prostitution, which began in the land of Egypt, and you will not lift your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.’

  8. Ezekiel 23:29 וְזִמָּתֵ֖ךְ and licentiousness your

    They will treat you with hatred, take all for which you have worked, and leave you naked and bare, so that the shame of your prostitution will be exposed. Your indecency and promiscuity

  9. Ezekiel 23:35 זִמָּתֵ֖ךְ licentiousness your

    Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and have cast Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your indecency and prostitution.’”

    Here: 'Your scheming depravity.' The noun comes from a root meaning 'to plan, devise'. It names shameful wickedness done on purpose, used especially of sexual outrages in Leviticus. Here it sums up Jerusalem's calculated unfaithfulness.

  10. Ezekiel 23:44 הַזִּמָּֽה׃ <the> licentiousness

    And they slept with her as with a prostitute; they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those lewd women.

  11. Ezekiel 23:48 זִמָּ֖ה כְּזִמַּתְכֶֽנָה׃ licentiousness, like licentiousness your

    So I will put an end to indecency in the land, and all the women will be admonished not to imitate your behavior.

  12. Ezekiel 23:49 זִמַּתְכֶ֙נָה֙ licentiousness your

    They will repay you for your indecency, and you will bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”

  13. Ezekiel 24:13 זִמָּ֑ה licentiousness

    Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.

    Here: A deliberate, planned outrage. In the Torah it is used for the worst sexual crimes, and in Ezekiel 16, 22 and 23 for Jerusalem's 'prostitution' with idols and foreign powers. The two words stand side by side with no verb: the uncleanness is not an accident. It is chosen depravity.

Hosea · 1

  1. Hosea 6:9 זִמָּ֖ה wickedness

    Like raiders who lie in ambush, so does a band of priests; they murder on the way to Shechem; surely they have committed atrocities.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.