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שֹׂרֵק

𐤔𐤓𐤒

sôrêq

H8321 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁרק to whistle, to call sharply, to hiss

Definition

A specific variety of grapevine regarded as especially choice or select; most often refers to a cultivated vine of superior quality, notably one that produces grapes suitable for fine or noble wine. In poetic or prophetic texts, it signifies a high-quality vine, particularly as a metaphor for fruitfulness or expectation of good yield.

Semantic Range

select or choice grapevine, cultivated vine of superior quality, noble vine, specially planted vineyard, metaphor for something of expected high value

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁרַק (to whistle, to hiss for, to call with a sharp sound), although this connection is debated. The association is with redness or purplish color (possibly linking to the color of certain grapes), with cognates in related Semitic languages supporting the identification of a notable grape variety. The noun שֹׂרֵק refers to this special type of vine, distinguished from ordinary wild or cultivated vines.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שֹׂרֵק occurs primarily in prophetic and poetic literature (notably Isaiah 5:2; Jeremiah 2:21), where it refers to a cultivated vine of exquisite or select quality, often as part of an allegory for the people of Israel—depicting them as planted by YHWH with expectation of excellent fruit. The word does not denote wine itself, but specifically the superior grapevine. English translations sometimes render it as 'choice vine' or 'noble vine', but these may obscure the viticultural specificity. The feminine form שֹׂרֵקָה occurs with similar meaning. Distinguished from גפן (general 'vine') or נכֵל (wild vine). Later Jewish agricultural tradition preserves the identification of sôrêq as a distinctive, possibly reddish-purple variety of grape, but exact botanical identification remains uncertain. There is no evidence in First Temple period sources that this vine was associated with religious or cultic practices. Later translations, including the Septuagint and Vulgate, sometimes render the term generically as 'vine' or 'branch', which can flatten its nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שׂוֹרֵק; and (feminine) שֹׂרֵקָה; from שָׁרַק in the sense of redness (compare שָׂרֻק); a vine stock (properly, one yielding purple grapes, the richest variety); choice(-st, noble) wine. Compare שָׂרוּק.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁרק (š-r-q) — to whistle, to hiss, to call sharply

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8322 שְׁרֵקָה and a derisive hissing

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8321-01 שֹׂרֵ֔ק soreq HNcmsa choice vine select grapevine 2
H8321-02 וְ/לַ/שֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה velasoreqah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and to the choice vine and to the select vine 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8321-02 Genesis 49:11 וְ/לַ/שֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה velasoreqah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and to the choice vine and to the select vine
H8321-01 Isaiah 5:2 שֹׂרֵ֔ק soreq HNcmsa choice vine select grapevine
H8321-01 Jeremiah 2:21 שֹׂרֵ֔ק soreq HNcmsa choice vine select grapevine
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