📖 Biblical Definition
Zera (זֶרַע) is the Hebrew word for seed — and Scripture loads it with a vast biblical sweep. The first messianic promise is of the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). The Abrahamic promise extends it: "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 22:18). David’s seed will reign on his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Paul reveals the singular: "He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Hebrew "seed" — offspring; covenant promise across generations.
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The Hebrew word for seed, used both literally (agricultural) and figuratively (offspring, descendants). Theologically loaded across Scripture: seed of the woman (Gen 3:15), seed of Abraham (Gen 12:7), seed of David (2 Sam 7:12), and supremely Christ as the seed (Paul's exegesis in Gal 3:16, where the singular zera — "and to thy seed, which is Christ"). The covenant runs through the seed.
📖 Key Scripture
Genesis 3:15 — "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Galatians 3:16 — "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."
Genesis 22:18 — "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Lost as a theological category; modern readers miss the cumulative seed-thread that runs from Eden to Calvary.
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Modern translations sometimes render zera as "offspring" or "descendants," which is accurate but loses the singular-collective ambiguity Paul exploits in Galatians 3:16. The seed promise narrows across Scripture: woman's seed, Abraham's seed, David's seed, the seed — Christ.
Recover the thread: Genesis 3:15 plants it; Genesis 12 names it; Genesis 22 confirms it; 2 Samuel 7 narrows it; the gospels reveal it. The seed-of-the-woman is Christ.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew zera.
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['Hebrew', 'H2233', 'zera', 'seed, offspring']
['Greek', 'G4690', 'sperma', 'seed']
Usage
"Zera runs the covenant from Eden to Calvary."
"The singular seed is Christ (Gal 3:16)."
"Read Genesis 3:15 as the gospel's first promise."