Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications' Biblical Name Vault: Zaza

Zaza meaning


Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Zaza.html

🔼The name Zaza: Summary

Moving About In A Cyclic Way
From the verb זוז (zwz), to move cyclic like a tide.

🔼The name Zaza in the Bible

The zippy name Zaza occurs only once in the Bible. He is a son of Jonathan, son of Jada of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:33).

🔼Etymology of the name Zaza

The name Zaza probably comes from the verb זוז I (zwz I), denoting moving things:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary

Judging from its extant derivatives, unused verb זוז (zwz) appears to have described a cyclic or tidal "ebb and flow" motion. Noun זיז (ziz) denotes roving things such as certain animals, which obviously move about their territory in circles, depending on the season. Noun מזוזה (mezuza) denotes a "place or agent" of the parental verb's cyclic motion, and refers to a door- or gate-post (and of course humans' frequent return to some fundamental truth).

Where the final א (aleph) of our names comes from isn't clear, but prosthetic alephs are not uncommon, and usually don't alter the meaning of the name.

🔼Zaza meaning

For a meaning of the name Zaza, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads Projection for no apparent reason. Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) declares "derivation unknown," and doesn't even try to solve the riddle, which is highly unusual for this otherwise highly creative scholar. BDB Theological Dictionary is unusually forward and states "perhaps belongs under this root" and places our name under זוז (zwz).

All uncertainties aside, a Hebrew audience would most likely have thought the name Zaza to mean Moving About In A Cyclic Way.