za.nah denotes sexual prostitution and, in many prophetic clauses, unfaithfulness expressed by pursuing other gods.

The dominant attested use describes turning from God through other gods, idols, or associated practices; the same verb also occurs for sexual prostitution and for a causative action in which someone leads others into such unfaithfulness.

1. Unfaithfulness through other gods or idols · dominant

   In Deuteronomy 31:16, the people are said to turn after foreign gods, forsake God, and break the covenant; in Exodus 34:15, the clause is set beside sacrificing to other gods. Ezekiel 6:9 links the participial forms with a heart turning aside and eyes going after idols, while Hosea 4:12 places the action beneath inquiry of wood and departure from under God.

   Deuteronomy 31:16Exodus 34:15Exodus 34:16Ezekiel 6:9Hosea 4:12Hosea 9:1
2. Sexual prostitution or illicit sexual conduct · common

   In Genesis 38:15, a Qal active participle identifies the woman Judah sees; the APB renders the clause "he thought her to be a fornicating woman." In Deuteronomy 22:21, the Qal infinitive construct occurs in the accusation concerning conduct in her father's house, and Amos 7:17 uses a Qal imperfect in the announced fate of a wife in the city.

   Genesis 38:15Genesis 38:24Deuteronomy 22:21Amos 7:17Joshua 2:1Joshua 6:17
3. Causing others to go astray · rare

   The Hiphil forms in 2 Chronicles 21:11 and 2 Chronicles 21:13 concern Judah and Jerusalem's inhabitants; in both verses the APB renders the surrounding clause "led ... astray." In Exodus 34:16, the action is described as making sons follow the daughters' conduct after their gods.

   2 Chronicles 21:112 Chronicles 21:13Exodus 34:16Hosea 5:3

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the supplied verses, the APB variously uses "fornicate," "play the harlot," "prostitute," and "fornicating." In Hiphil contexts it can render the surrounding result as "led... astray"; These are presentations of whole clauses rather than fixed equivalents.