The Hebrew verb za'aph (H2196) means to be wrathful, to rage, to be vexed or troubled. It describes intense emotional disturbance — the fury of a king, the anguish of the soul, or divine indignation against sin.
Za'aph captures the emotional intensity of anger and distress. Theologically, it helps distinguish between human anger (which often springs from pride) and divine wrath (which is righteous and purposeful). Proverbs 19:12 compares a king's za'aph to a lion's growl — terrifying and final. The word invites sobriety about the weight of wrath, both human and divine.