סוּג
𐤎𐤅𐤂
çûwg
H5473 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To enclose or surround, usually with a barrier such as a hedge or wall; to restrain movement, set limits, or provide protection by forming a boundary. The verb can convey a literal act of enclosing land or space, or serve figuratively for restricting, safeguarding, or marking off.
Semantic Range
to enclose or hem in (physically), to make a hedge, to provide protection by setting a barrier, to restrict or confine, to surround as act of safeguarding or limiting
Root / Etymology
The root is סוּג. The core root meaning is 'to enclose' or 'to form a barrier.' This root underlies words denoting barriers, hedges, or means of restriction. The form סוּג is generally considered a primitive root, but etymological connections to cognate Semitic languages are uncertain. Some relate it to שׂוּג ('to move back, withdraw'), due to phonetic and semantic parallels, but this is debated.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, סוּג is attested in poetic and prophetic contexts, often describing agricultural hedges—plant-based enclosures providing protection for vineyards or fields (cf. Isa 5:5). Its usage focuses on the act of enclosing as a protective or restrictive measure, rather than simply fencing for demarcation. The sense frequently carries both protective and preventative connotations—making an area secure, but also limiting access. Unlike other terms such as גָּדֵר (gader, 'wall, fence'), which refer to built structures, סוּג implies an act or process of setting boundaries, often hedges, sometimes emphasizing the intentionality of the boundary-maker. In later periods, especially in postbiblical usage, related terms evolved to mean 'fence' more broadly, but the core verbal sense remains the act of setting or forming a boundary. English translations sometimes render the root as 'hedge,' 'fence in,' or 'enclose,' but may not always capture the nuance of active boundary-setting prevalent in Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (probably rather identical with סוּג through the idea of shrinking from a hedge; compare שׂוּג); to hem in, i.e. bind; set about.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סוג (s-w-g) — to enclose, to hedge, to set a boundary
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5473-01 |
סוּגָ֖ה | sugah | HVQsfsa |
surrounded | enclosed one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5473-01 |
Song of Songs 7:3 | סוּגָ֖ה | sugah | HVQsfsa |
surrounded | enclosed one |