Zahav
/zaˈhav/noun
A Hebrew word meaning “gold,” often used in English transliterations of Hebrew names, phrases, and titles.
Did you know?The Hebrew word זָהָב appears throughout the Hebrew Bible, where gold is associated with sacred objects, royal wealth, and the Temple.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*dahab-
“Gold; a precious yellow metal”
Ancient Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew
זָהָב — zāhāḇ
“Gold, especially as a valuable or sacred substance”
Ancient Aramaic
Aramaic
דהב — dehab
“Gold”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ذَهَب — dhahab
“Gold; the precious metal”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
ذَهَبِيَّة — dhahabiyya
“A golden boat or gilded vessel, later the source of English “dahabiya””
Modern English
English
zahav
“A transliteration of the Hebrew word for gold, used in names, quotations, and cultural contexts”