עָזַק
𐤏𐤆𐤒
ʻâzaq
H5823 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To dig up or break up ground, especially in preparation for planting or to remove impediments; to enclose or protect an area, especially by constructing a fence or hedge around a vineyard or field. The term describes both the physical act of grubbing up soil, such as with a hoe or other implement, and the protective action of securing agricultural land.
Semantic Range
to dig up ground, to break up soil, to grub over, to fence about, to enclose (especially vineyard or field)
Root / Etymology
Root: עזק. The root conveys the act of digging, breaking up ground, or enclosing. The verb form עָזַק (ʻâzaq) in its attested context refers specifically to agricultural activity—digging and fencing, particularly with reference to preparing a vineyard. Its root meaning emphasizes the strenuous, manual action of working the soil or placing a protective barrier.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The primary occurrence of עָזַק is in Isaiah 5:2, describing the detailed care and preparation given to a vineyard, where the land is both dug (to remove stones and prepare it for planting) and fenced (to protect it). This context situates the verb within agricultural activity during the monarchic period, underscoring the labor and attention involved in vineyard cultivation in ancient Israel. The term is rare and highly context-specific, not used in a broader metaphorical or later religious sense in the Hebrew Bible. English translations often render it by general agricultural terms ("dig," "hoed," or "fenced") but may fail to capture the full sense of both cultivation and enclosure. Unlike other Hebrew verbs such as חָפַר (to dig, generally for water or a pit) or גָּדַר (to fence, to wall in), עָזַק uniquely covers both cultivation and protection in a single agricultural context. No evidence exists for significant development in meaning across later periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to grub over; fence about.
Bantu Hebrew
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עזק (ʿ-z-q) — digging up, breaking ground, fencing in, enclosing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5823-01 |
וַֽ/יְעַזְּקֵ֣/הוּ | vayeazeqehu | HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms |
and he fenced it | he fenced it in | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5823-01 |
Isaiah 5:2 | וַֽ/יְעַזְּקֵ֣/הוּ | vayeazeqehu | HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms |
and he fenced it | he fenced it in |