Uses of Zakhar/Zekhur ("Male) in the OT, Page 2

Uses of Zakhar/Zekhur (“Male”) in the OT, continued

F. MALES CARRYING OTHER SACRED SIGNIFICANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 times - 8.1%

1. Adam and Eve, Created to Serve God and Have Fellowship with Him – 2 times

Gen 1:27 - God created Adam and Eve, the first male* and female,** "in his image" to fill the earth, have domination over it (1:28), and enjoy fellowship with Him (Gen 2-3).
Gen 5:2 - "Male* and female** God created the first humans (in His own likeness, v.1), and he blessed them.

2. Noah's Creatures, Who Would Save their Species in the Flood – 4 times

       Gen 6:19 - Noah is commanded to take into the Ark a pair, including male* and female,** of all animals, birds, and creeping things on the ground, "to keep them alive with you."
       Gen 7:3 - Among the "clean creatures" (suitable for sacrifice and with 7 pairs each), Noah is to take 7 pairs of birds also, male* and female,** "to keep their kind alive upon … the earth."
       Gen 7:9 - When the Flood began, Noah took with him into the Ark the male* and female**
creatures, both clean and unclean, as God had commanded him.
       Gen 7:16 - And "male* and female** of all flesh, went in, as God had commanded [Noah]; and the Lord shut the door [of the Ark]."

3. Prophecy Concerning the Rapid Birth of the Church – 1 time

Isa 66:7 - After a great "uproar from the city" (casting out of Jewish-Christian worshippers), a man* child shall be born quickly (the Church), a "nation" in one moment (v. 8)!

G. MALES DEDICATED TO PAGAN GODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 times - 11.6%

1. Midianites, Who First Led Israel into Worshipping the Canaanite Baal – 5 times

       Num 31:7 - Moses was commanded to kill all Midianite/Moabite males,* whose women had lured the Israelites in the wilderness to sacrifice to Baal and into sexual unions (ch. 25).
       Num 31:17 - Besides the Midianite/Moabite men, Moses was commanded to kill "every man [male] among their little ones," as well as any woman who had had sex with a Midianite man.
       Num 31:17 - Besides the Midianite/Moabite men, Moses was commanded to kill "every man [male] among their little ones," as well as any woman who had had sex with a Midianite man.*
       Num 31:18 - But every woman who has not known a (Midianite) man,* you "may keep alive for yourselves." Such a holy war required many special, detailed instructions.
       Num 31:35 - The Israelite men brought back, therefore, 32,000 women who had not known
a (Midianite) man,* along with other "spoils," as instructed.

2. Canaanite Males, who Entice Israel to Worship Other Gods – 1 time

Deut 20:13 - If a city in Canaan makes war against you, the Lord will give it into your hands (v.10ff); but you shall then kill every male* (zekhur), lest they lead you into idolatry (v.18).

3. Canaanite Male Cult Prostitutes, whom the Israelite Men Were to Avoid – 2 times

Lev 18:22 - An Israelite man was not to have anal intercourse with mankind*(a male prostitute, serving Canaanite deities and offering himself sexually for sacred purposes).
Lev 20:13 - Death was proscribed for any Israelite man who had anal intercourse with mankind* (a male prostitute, serving Canaanite deities by offering himself sexually).

4. Canaanite Male Idols, that Israelite Men Were Not to Worship – 2 times

Deut 4:16 - The Lord tells the Israelites to take heed (v. 15) lest in the Promised Land they turn to making graven images [idols] in the shape of male* or female.**
Ezek 16:17 - Among the "abominations" of the Jerusalemites, they made for themselves "images of men* (idols with phalluses - Clements, p. 85), which they worshipped.

H. MEN IN GENERAL (NO DISCERNABLE SACRED SIGNIFICANCE) .9 times - 10.5%

1. Israelite Men with a Discharge – 2 times

Lev 15:33 - A man* or woman** who had "a discharge" (normal or diseased) – of semen, blood or pus from the genitals – was considered unclean and must follow certain restrictions.
Num 5:3 - Every male* or female** who contacted leprosy, had a (pathological) discharge, or touched a corpse was to be put outside the camp (to avoid spreading infectious diseases).

2. Other Uses – 7 times

      Josh 17:2 - Allotments of land (including Gilead and Bashan) were now given to the male*
descendents of Manasseh, first-born of Joseph (related to inheritance rights).
     Judg 21:11 - Since no men came from Jabesh-gilead to avenge the atrocity at Gibeah, the other Israelites were told to go kill every male* among them and every woman who had laid with one.
   Judg 21:11 - Since no men came from Jabesh-gilead to avenge the atrocity at Gibeah, the other Israelites were told to go kill every male and every woman who had laid with such a man.*
      Judg 21:12 - The 400 virgins at Jabesh-gilead who were found to never have had sex with any male* were then brought back to Israelite camp at Shiloh.
      1 Kgs 11:15 - After David's defeat of the Edomite army (2 Sam 8:13f), his army commander, Joab, proceeded to bury the dead; also "he slew every male* in Edom."
    1 Kgs 11:16 - Joab and his men stayed in Edom 6 months until he "had cut off every male* in Edom (except for a certain Hadad who escaped to Egypt).
      Jer 30:6 - The Lord asks Jeremiah, "Can a man* bear children?" Yet, when Jerusalem is destroyed, every strong man will hold his stomach with his hands, like a woman in labor!

Translations here are from the Revised Standard Version, 2nd ed., 1972

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