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סָס

𐤎𐤎

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H5580 noun

SILEX Entry

Root סוס to leap, move quickly, rejoice

Definition

A type of insect known for its destructive feeding on fabric or organic matter, specifically a 'moth.' In the Hebrew Bible, סָס designates the small insect associated with slow, often hidden, destruction, especially of woven garments and organic goods. The term conveys the idea of gradual but persistent ruin, typically by the larval stage rather than the adult moth; by extension, it serves as a metaphor for subtle or unnoticed decay.

Semantic Range

moth (insect that destroys fabric), metaphor for gradual or unseen destruction, symbol of impermanence or transience

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root סוס ('s-w-s'), which primarily means 'to leap, to rejoice, to move quickly.' The noun סָס, however, likely takes its name from the rapid and elusive movements of the adult moth but refers lexically to the destructive larva. The etymology indicating agility relates more to the perceived movement than the actual nature of the damage caused. Cognates in related Semitic languages support the connection to rapid movement.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, סָס appears notably in Isaiah 51:8, where a moth's destructive action serves as a metaphor for inevitable decay and the ephemeral nature of worldly things compared to the enduring word or righteousness of God. The existence of similar terms in Northwest Semitic languages (e.g., Ugaritic) reinforces its identification as 'moth.' The standard translation 'moth' in English is accurate for the passage but may not convey the full nuance of gradual, unseen erosion. While modern translations use 'moth,' earlier English renderings sometimes vary. The related noun סוּס (Strong's H5483), meaning 'horse,' shares only a root and not a semantic field; the similarity is strictly formal, not referential. No evidence suggests a difference in meaning across biblical periods, although in later Hebrew (Mishnaic), the word continues to denote 'moth.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as סוּס; a moth (from the agility of the fly); moth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סוס (s-w-s) — to leap, to rejoice, to move quickly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2702 חֲצַר סוּסִים horses
H5483 סוּס in the horses
H5484 סוּסָה to my mare
H5485 סוּסִי My-Horse

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5580-01 סָ֑ס sas HNcmsa the worm he exulted 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5580-01 Isaiah 51:8 סָ֑ס sas HNcmsa the worm he exulted
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