Male

"male." Cognates of this word appear in Akkadian, Aramaic, and Arabic. It occurs 82 times and usually in early prose (Genesis through Deuteronomy), only 5 times in the biblical prophets, and never in biblical wisdom or poetical literature. Zakar emphasizes "maleness" as over against "femaleness"; this word focuses on the sex of the one so named. Thus, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen 1:27). The word can be used not only of an "adult male" but also of a "male child" (Lev 12:7). Zakar is used collectively in many passages, in singular form, with a plural reference (Judg 21:11).

In some contexts the word represents a "male animal": "And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female" (Gen 6:19).

"male." Sometimes zakar is used as an adjective: "Number all the first-born of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward…" (Num 3:40). The word appears in Jer 20:15: "A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad."

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is translated "men" in Rom 1:27 (three times); "man child" in Rev 12:5 (Rev 12:13 in some mss.); "male" in Mat 19:4, Mar 10:6, Luk 2:23, Gal 3:28, "(there can be no) male (and female)," RV, i.e., sex distinction does not obtain in Christ; sex is no barrier either to salvation or the development of Christian graces. See MAN.