Word Study for H2159 (זָמִיר)

zâmîyr /zaw-meer'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga twig (as pruned)

KJV usagebranch.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of zâmîyr — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word zâmîyr, represented by H2159, refers to a twig or branch, specifically one that has been pruned. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the entirety of the biblical text. Its meaning is derived from the concept of a small, trimmed-off part of a larger plant.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single biblical use of H2159 is found in a prophetic context in Isaiah 25:5. Here, it is used metaphorically to represent the oppressive powers that oppose God. The verse states that "the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low." In this passage, the "branch" is not a literal plant but a symbol for the flourishing influence and might of tyrants, which God promises to cut down and humble, just as He quells the "noise of strangers" Isaiah 25:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words from its context in Isaiah 25:5 illuminate the meaning of H2159:

H6184 ʻârîyts (mighty, oppressor, terrible): This term directly identifies the owner of the "branch." It describes a power that is tyrannical and fearful, clarifying that H2159 symbolizes a hostile and oppressive force that will be judged Isaiah 25:5.
H2114 zûwr (stranger, foreigner): This word is used in parallel with the "terrible ones." The promise to bring down the "noise of strangers" mirrors the promise to bring low the "branch," linking the two as enemies of God's people who will face divine judgment Isaiah 25:5.
H3665 kânaʻ (bring down, humble, subdue): This verb describes the action God takes against the "noise of strangers." It means to vanquish or humiliate, establishing the theme of subjugation that is then applied to the "branch of the terrible ones" Isaiah 25:5.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2159 is concentrated entirely in its single, symbolic appearance.

Divine Judgment on Tyranny: The "branch of the terrible ones" represents arrogant, oppressive power. The promise that it "shall be brought low" is a declaration of God's sovereignty and His ultimate judgment against human pride and violence Isaiah 25:5.
Metaphor of Frailty: By describing the oppressors as a mere branch or twig, the prophecy diminishes their perceived strength. It suggests that even the most formidable powers are as fragile as a pruned twig before God and can be easily cut off and discarded.
Promise of Deliverance: The humbling of this "branch" is part of God's work of providing relief and protection, like "the shadow of a cloud" in the intense heat Isaiah 25:5. It underscores the theme that God acts to deliver His people by silencing their oppressors.

Summary

In summary, H2159 zâmîyr is a term whose significance is not in its frequency but in its potent metaphorical use. Appearing only once, it functions as a powerful symbol in Isaiah's prophecy for the influence of tyrannical powers. Its use to describe the "branch of the terrible ones" that will be "brought low" serves as a vivid illustration of God's absolute power to judge oppression and bring deliverance, reducing the mightiest of foes to a pruned and powerless twig Isaiah 25:5.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as an adjective and a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

זָרִים
זָּמִיר

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Isaiah — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.