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צַמּוּק

𐤑𐤌𐤅𐤒

tsammûwq

H6778 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צמק to become dry, to shrivel, to wither

Definition

A cake or compact mass of dried grapes, typically pressed together into a cluster or lump, often translated as 'raisin cake' or 'dried grape cluster.' The term refers specifically to grapes that have been dehydrated and compressed, usually for consumption as a sweet food, offering, or festive item. The meaning is distinct from fresh grapes or standard raisins, referring rather to a prepared product.

Semantic Range

cake of dried grapes, pressed cluster of raisins, raisin cake, prepared lump of dried fruit

Root / Etymology

From the root צָמַק (tsamaq), meaning 'to shrivel,' 'to become dry,' or 'to wither.' The noun form צַמּוּק conveys the sense of something that has been dried out by dehydration, i.e., grapes that have lost their moisture and are pressed or formed.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, צַמּוּק appears in contexts of food offerings (e.g., Hosea 3:1) and celebrations. The item seems to have been a delicacy or special food, sometimes used metaphorically for sweetness or richness. It is distinct from other dried fruits and differs from 'fresh grape cluster' (e.g., אֲשַׁכּוּל or אֶשְׁכּוֹל). English translations often render the term as 'raisin cake,' 'raisin cluster,' or 'cake of dried grapes,' though any of these can understate the likely size or social value of the item in its ancient context. Unlike dried grapes as loose raisins, צַמּוּק likely refers to clusters or cakes that are pressed and compacted—a valued treat, sometimes associated with festival banquets or cultic offerings. In later periods, the importance of such sweets continued, but the term itself does not become common outside biblical Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָמַק; a cake of dried grapes; bunch (cluster) of raisins.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צמק (ts-m-q) — to dry up, to shrivel, to wither

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6784 צָמַק withering ones

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6778-01 צִמֻּקִ֖ים tsimuqim HNcmpa clusters of raisins pressed dried-grape cakes pressed dried-grape cakes 3
H6778-02 וְ/צִמּוּקִ֧ים vetsimuqim HC/Ncmpa and clusters of raisins and dried-grape cakes and dried-grape cakes 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6778-01 1 Samuel 25:18 צִמֻּקִ֖ים tsimuqim HNcmpa clusters of raisins pressed dried-grape cakes pressed dried-grape cakes
H6778-01 1 Samuel 30:12 צִמֻּקִים֙ tsimuqim HNcmpa clusters of raisins pressed dried-grape cakes pressed dried-grape cakes
H6778-01 2 Samuel 16:1 צִמּוּקִ֛ים tsimuqim HNcmpa of raisins pressed dried-grape cakes cakes of raisins
H6778-02 1 Chronicles 12:41 וְ/צִמּוּקִ֧ים vetsimuqim HC/Ncmpa and clusters of raisins and dried-grape cakes and dried-grape cakes
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