Hebrew word · H2212

זָקַק

yazoku

to refine

To refine, purify, filter. Used of refined gold and silver (1 Chr 28:18; 29:4), of words 'refined seven times' (Ps 12:6), of water distilled into rain (Job 36:27), and of people purified like metal (Mal 3:3).

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to purify, distil, strain, refine

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to purify, distil, strain

1a2) to refine

1b) (Piel) to purge, refine

1c) (Pual) to refine, purify

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 Isaiah 25:6

Range of meaning

To refine, purify, filter. Used of refined gold and silver (1 Chr 28:18; 29:4), of words 'refined seven times' (Ps 12:6), of water distilled into rain (Job 36:27), and of people purified like metal (Mal 3:3).

Against the English

KJV 'well refined' and ESV 'well refined' are accurate. BSB 'finely aged' and NIV 'finest of wines' move the idea from clarity to quality and lose the picture of straining.

Used elsewhere in the period

The metallurgical sense is the most common one. Using it of wine points to the practice of decanting: drawing aged wine off its sediment and straining it.

From the study of Malachi 3:3

Range of meaning

To refine, filter, strain or distill. Used of refined gold and silver (1 Chronicles 28:18; 29:4; Job 28:1), wine strained clear of its lees (Isaiah 25:6), and water distilled into rain (Job 36:27). The emphasis falls on the result: something drawn off clean.

Against the English

KJV's 'purge' and modern versions' 'refine' are both fair. Neither conveys the 'strained clear' sense that Hebrew hearers would have known from wine-making.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Latin Vulgate's colabit ('he will strain, filter') keeps this sense. Psalm 12:6 uses the passive participle mezuqqaq, 'purified,' for silver refined seven times.

Where it appears

1 Chronicles · 2

  1. 1 Chronicles 28:18 מְזֻקָּ֖ק purified

    the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense; and the plans for the chariot of the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

  2. 1 Chronicles 29:4 מְזֻקָּ֔ק purified

    three thousand talents of gold (the gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings,

Job · 2

  1. Job 28:1 יָזֹֽקּוּ׃ [which] people refine

    “Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

  2. Job 36:27 יָזֹ֖קּוּ they refine

    For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 12:6 מְ֝זֻקָּ֗ק purified

    The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

    Here: 'Refined', a second metalworking verb. It is used of refined gold and silver for the temple and of wine strained clear of its sediment. The form describes something that has been thoroughly purified.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 25:6 מְזֻקָּקִֽים׃ refined

    On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.

    Here: 'Refined' is the word used for purified gold and silver (1 Chr 28:18; 29:4; Ps 12:6). Here it means wine drawn off its sediment and strained clear. The wine has gained all the depth of aging on the lees and none of the grit.

Malachi · 1

  1. Malachi 3:3 וְזִקַּ֣ק and he will refine

    And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.

    Here: 'And he will refine.' The verb is also used for straining wine and distilling water. It stresses the result: metal from which everything foreign has been drawn off.

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