Ze'ev (Hebrew: זאב \ זְאֵב zeév), also spelled Zeev or Zev, is a name of Hebrew origin which means wolf. The given name is a masculine form used among Ashkenazi Jews. It is a Biblical name, adapted from a reference to Benjamin in Genesis as a "wolf that raveneth". It re-appeared in relatively recent times as a translation of the Yiddish name װאָלף "Volf" or "Wolf". The name "Wolf" (in German) was relatively common among Germans.

Ze'ev, Zev
Ze'ev Jabotinsky, arguably the most famous Ze'ev
Pronunciation[zeʔev]
GenderMale
Language(s)Hebrew
Origin
Word/nameTranslation of Yiddish װאלף "Volf"
MeaningWolf
Other names
Alternative spellingZeev, Zev, Zeeb, Zeb, Seff
Related namesWolf (name)

The Bible mentions a person directly named Ze'ev, one of the Midianite leaders defeated by the Judge Gideon (see Oreb and Zeeb). However, the identical modern name is not derived from this character, an ancient enemy whom later Jews had no reason to emulate.

The name Ze'ev or Zev may refer to:

People with the given name edit

Ze'ev edit

Zev or Z'ev edit

Zehev edit

People with the surname edit

Fictional characters edit

  • Ze'ev Kesley, fictional character in The Lunar Chronicles fantasy novels
  • Zev Bellringer, fictional character in the television series Lexx
  • Zev Senesca, fictional character in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back

See also edit