זֶ֫בֶד

# Zeved (זֶ֫בֶד): A Rare Biblical Term for Dowry The Hebrew word *zeved* appears only once in the biblical text, denoting a dowry—property or goods that a bride brings to marriage. This single occurrence limits our ability to determine the full semantic range or nuances of the term, but its presence in Scripture documents the practice of dowries in ancient Hebrew society, a custom widely attested across the ancient Near East. The rarity of this specific word in the biblical corpus is notable. Rather than indicating that dowries were uncommon in ancient Israel, the single usage suggests that other Hebrew terms may have been preferred or that dowry arrangements were discussed using different vocabulary. The existence of *zeved* nonetheless confirms that ancient Hebrew had a distinct word available for describing this particular aspect of marriage transactions and family economics, revealing how material arrangements accompanied marriage formation in biblical times.

AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.