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זָמִיר

𐤆𐤌𐤉𐤓

zâmîyr

H2159 noun

SILEX Entry

Root זמר to prune, to cut, to trim, to sing

Definition

A pruned branch or shoot, specifically referring to a tender twig or offshoot resulting from the cutting or trimming of a plant, often in the context of viticulture or fruit trees. The term denotes the result of agricultural pruning, emphasizing the fresh growth that emerges after the cutting process.

Semantic Range

pruned branch, shoot, twig; by extension, pruned offshoot; possibly, in some contexts, a time of pruning (season)

Root / Etymology

From the root זמר, which primarily means 'to prune, trim, sing.' The noun form זָמִיר derives from the verbal idea of pruning and denotes the branch or shoot that is cut off or that results from pruning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

זָמִיר occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in the Song of Songs 2:12, where 'the time of the pruning (or singing) has come' is a debated phrase, with some ancient versions (e.g., the Septuagint) interpreting the word as related to 'singing,' while most modern scholarship sees the agricultural meaning ('pruning, pruned branch') as more likely in context. In post-biblical Hebrew, the associations with both 'pruning' and 'singing' continued, but the classical usage indicates a focus on the agricultural cycle, especially in the rural and viticultural rhythms of ancient Israelite life. The word illustrates a possible semantic overlap with words for song (as the root also means 'to sing'), but in this nominal form, the reference to a branch, specifically one resulting from pruning, is primary. English translations frequently render this as 'singing,' influenced by later associations, but this may obscure the predominantly agricultural meaning in most biblical settings.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָמַר; a twig (as pruned); branch.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זמר (z-m-r) — to prune, to cut, to trim, to sing

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2156 זְמוֹרָה the pruned vine-shoot
H2158 זָמִיר with musical songs
H2160 זְמִירָה Zemirah
H2167 זָמַר I will make music in praise
H2168 זָמַר you will prune

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2159-01 הַ/זָּמִ֖יר hazamir HTd/Ncmsa of singing the pruned shoot 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2159-01 Song of Songs 2:12 הַ/זָּמִ֖יר hazamir HTd/Ncmsa of singing the pruned shoot
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