### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **zalzal**, represented by `{{H2150}}`, is a term for a **sprig**. Derived from a root meaning tremulous, it suggests a twig or a small, delicate shoot. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, making its single usage highly specific.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2150}}` is in [[Isaiah 18:5]], within a vivid agricultural image. The verse describes a moment just before the **harvest** `{{H7105}}`, when the **bud** `{{H6525}}` is perfect and the **sour grape** `{{H1155}}` is ripening in the **flower** `{{H5328}}`. In this context of impending fruitfulness, the **sprigs** `{{H2150}}` are deliberately **cut off** `{{H3772}}` with **pruning hooks** `{{H4211}}`, and the larger **branches** `{{H5189}}` are also taken away and cut down.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H2150}}` is illuminated by the words surrounding it in its only context:
* `{{H3772}}` **kârath** (to cut): This is the action performed on the sprigs. The root means to **cut off** or destroy and is also used in the context of making a covenant ([[Genesis 15:18]], [[Jeremiah 31:31]]).
* `{{H4211}}` **mazmêrâh** (pruning-hook): This is the specific tool used for cutting. This agricultural implement is also found in prophecies about turning instruments of war into tools of peace [[Isaiah 2:4]] or vice versa [[Joel 3:10]].
* `{{H5189}}` **nᵉṭîyshâh** (branch): A term used in parallel with sprig, referring to a tendril or offshoot of a plant that is also removed [[Jeremiah 5:10]].
* `{{H7105}}` **qâtsîyr** (harvest): This sets the critical timing of the event. The cutting of the sprigs happens just before the harvest, the time of reaping [[Genesis 8:22]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2150}}` is tied directly to its metaphorical use in [[Isaiah 18:5]].
* **Divine Intervention as Pruning:** The act of cutting off the **sprigs** before the harvest serves as a metaphor for decisive divine judgment. It is not a random act but a deliberate and precise removal of growth at a critical moment.
* **Interruption of Potential:** The cutting happens when the **bud** `{{H6525}}` is perfect and the grape is ripening, signifying the interruption of a process that appears to be headed toward a successful outcome. Removing the young **sprigs** ensures they cannot contribute to the final harvest.
* **Thorough Judgment:** The action is comprehensive. The verse states He will both **cut off** `{{H3772}}` the **sprigs** and **take away** `{{H5493}}` and **cut down** `{{H8456}}` the **branches** `{{H5189}}`, illustrating a complete dismantling of the plant's future potential.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2150}}` **zalzal**, though appearing only once, provides a sharp and specific image within a broader biblical theme of divine pruning. As a "sprig" or "tremulous twig," it represents nascent potential that is decisively **cut off** `{{H3772}}` before it can mature. Its singular use in [[Isaiah 18:5]] encapsulates a moment of specific, targeted judgment, illustrating how God can intervene in the growth process before the final harvest.
TRV