שִׂיחַ
𐤔𐤉𐤇
sîyach
H7880 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A young plant, shoot, sprout, or shrub; more generally, any bush or low-growing plant. In some contexts, refers specifically to early vegetation, particularly as it appears in the Genesis creation narratives. The term implies not just generic plants, but particularly non-cultivated growth arising naturally.
Semantic Range
shoot, sprout, bush, shrub, young plant, non-cultivated vegetation
Root / Etymology
Root: שִׂיחַ (s-y-ḥ). The term derives from the root שִׂיחַ, which in verbal form means 'to put forth, grow luxuriantly,' and in nominal form denotes something that grows up or comes forth, such as a shoot or sprout. The root meaning 'to bring forth, produce' is metaphorically extended to denote plants that emerge from the ground.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שִׂיחַ appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in Genesis 2:5 ('every shrub of the field'—kol sîyach hasadeh), where it refers to naturally occurring vegetation prior to the cultivation of the land by humans. The word emphasizes non-agricultural plants rather than crops sown by people. Unlike עשֶׂב (ʿeseb), which broadly covers herbaceous plants (including grasses and cultivated herbs), שִׂיחַ has a more specific focus on bushy or shrubby vegetation. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the term aligns with spontaneous, wild growth as opposed to purposeful human agriculture. Modern translations often use 'bush' or 'shrub,' though 'shoot' or 'sprout' sometimes reflects the youthful or emergent character of the plant. Interpretations linking the term to speech ('to speak, meditate') are based on homonyms and are not relevant to this botanical sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שִׂיחַ; a shoot (as if uttered or put forth), i.e. (generally) shrubbery; bush, plant, shrub.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂיח (s-y-ḥ) — to bring forth, to sprout, to grow luxuriantly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7808 | שֵׂחַ | his inward meditation |
| H7879 | שִׂיחַ | in my meditation |
| H7881 | שִׂיחָה | meditative reflection |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7880-02 |
שִׂ֣יחַ | sicha | HNcmsc |
shrub | sprouting shrub | 2 |
H7880-03 |
שִׂיחִ֥ים | sichim | HNcmpa |
the bushes | sprouting shrubs | 1 |
H7880-01 |
הַ/שִּׂיחִֽם | hasichim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the shrubs | the sprouting shrubs | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7880-02 |
Genesis 2:5 | שִׂ֣יחַ | sicha | HNcmsc |
shrub | sprouting shrub |
H7880-01 |
Genesis 21:15 | הַ/שִּׂיחִֽם | hasichim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the shrubs | the sprouting shrubs |
H7880-02 |
Job 30:4 | שִׂ֑יחַ | sicha | HNcmsa |
the bushes | sprouting shrub |
H7880-03 |
Job 30:7 | שִׂיחִ֥ים | sichim | HNcmpa |
the bushes | sprouting shrubs |