Zulluwth - Definition of 'Zullûwth'

On the definition of

Zullûwth...

This is the definition of zullûwth as it stands in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance in the Hebrew Dictionary:

2149 zullûwth, zool-looth'; from 2151; prop. a shaking, i.e. perh. a tempest:- vilest.

For those who don't know...

2149	= coded Key Number in Strong's Hebrew Dictionary.
	= the Hebrew spelling (I left out the vowel pointing).
zullûwth,	= Strong's transliteration of the Hebrew spelling.
zool-looth'	= Strong's pronunciation/phonetic representation for the English speaker.
from 2151	= refers to the word's word root or derivation.
shaking, tempest	= words in italics in the definition are the word's literal meanings.
:- vilest	= words following the colon and em-dash are the various translations of the word in the King James Version.
.	= end of definition.

I did a search for zullûwth using several different and discovered a potential problem. The definitions given at some webites seem to be deficient and/or dependent upon secondary meanings and KJV renderings. The literal meaning of a word is more authoritative than its translation. The primary meaning is the one which should prevail. The lesson is: 'Buy a copy of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance for yourself' and always do your homework!

The definition for zullûwth given in Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon is:

terror, trembling, Psal. 12:9. Root . ["hapax legom . prop. a shaking, trembling, earthquake, see the root in Niphal. Hence a storm, a tempest. Ps. 12:9, "the wicked walk on every side, like the rising of a tempest upon the sons of men." Ges. add.]

Both Strong and Gesenius give 'to shake' as the primary meaning of the root [2151]. The websites I referred to above (without listing them), while being easy to use, simply do not measure up to either of these Hebraists' works. I can only speak concerning their / entries, but it suggests to me that my bound volumes are superior. It also suggests that depending upon these electronic references may prove misleading for some. I highly recommend Gesenius' works, especially the German original. The English version features coding to Strong's and provides more complete and scholarly pictures of the OT Hebrew vocabulary. - JBW