### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word כַּנָּה (kannâh, `{{H3657}}`) derives from the root כָּנַן (kânan), which signifies "to be firm, established, or set in place." This etymological foundation provides crucial insight into the core meaning of כַּנָּה. It refers primarily to "a plant (as set)," emphasizing not merely a generic plant, but one that has been deliberately planted, firmly established in the soil. This implies an act of intentional cultivation and a degree of permanence. The extended or idiomatic sense, "vineyard," further refines this meaning, pointing to a specific type of cultivated planting—an area where vines are systematically established for growth and fruit-bearing. Thus, כַּנָּה encapsulates the idea of something rooted, stable, and purposefully cultivated, reflecting care and expectation of produce.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term כַּנָּה (kannâh, `{{H3657}}`) is remarkably rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only once. Its sole occurrence is found in the prophetic book of Ezekiel:
* **[[Ezekiel 17:7]]**: "And there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers; and behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its planting, that he might water it."
In this verse, כַּנָּה (kannâh) is translated as "beds of its planting" or "beds where it was planted." The context is Ezekiel's intricate parable of the two eagles and the vine, which serves as an allegorical prophecy concerning the political machinations between Judah, Babylon, and Egypt. The "vine" represents the nation of Judah/Jerusalem, which was "planted" by the first great eagle (Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) in a fertile field. The phrase "beds of its planting" (מַעֲרֻגֹת כַּנָּהּ, maʿaruggōt kannāh) refers to the very ground or rows where the vine was established. The vine, instead of flourishing where it was planted, bent its roots and branches towards another eagle (Pharaoh of Egypt) for water, symbolizing Judah's turning from Babylon to seek help from Egypt, a move that would lead to further judgment. The use of כַּנָּה here underscores the deliberate establishment of the vine, highlighting its initial secure placement and subsequent unfaithfulness.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary etymological link for כַּנָּה (kannâh, `{{H3657}}`) is to the root כָּנַן (kânan), which is a denominative verb from the more common root כּוּן (kûn, `{{H3559}}`), meaning "to be established, firm, ready, or prepared." This connection emphasizes the stability and deliberate placement inherent in the meaning of כַּנָּה.
While כַּנָּה is distinct in its specific nuance, it relates to broader biblical concepts of plants and cultivated land:
* **גֶּפֶן (gephen, `{{H1612}}`)**: The most common Hebrew word for "vine." While כַּנָּה can refer to a vine as a "plant," גֶּפֶן specifically names the plant itself.
* **כֶּרֶם (kerem, `{{H3754}}`)**: The most common Hebrew word for "vineyard." This term denotes the entire cultivated area where vines are grown, whereas כַּנָּה, when used idiomatically as "vineyard," focuses more on the *planted* nature of the vineyard.
* **נֶטַע (netaʿ, `{{H5194}}`)**: "Planting" or "plant." This word refers to the act of planting or the thing planted, similar to כַּנָּה, but without the specific emphasis on being "set" or "established" that כַּנָּה carries from its root.
The uniqueness of כַּנָּה lies in its singular focus on the *established* nature of the plant, tying it directly to the act of being firmly set, which implies intentionality and a foundation.
### Theological Significance
Though found only once, the word כַּנָּה (kannâh, `{{H3657}}`) resonates deeply with a pervasive theological metaphor in the Hebrew Bible: Israel as God's vine or vineyard. This imagery underscores several profound truths:
1. **Divine Establishment and Care:** Just as a plant is "set" in the ground, God is portrayed as the divine Planter who established Israel in the land of Canaan. Passages like [[Psalm 80:8]] ("You brought a vine out of Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it.") and [[Isaiah 5:1-7]] ("My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill...") vividly depict God's meticulous care in choosing, planting, and cultivating His people. The "beds of its planting" in [[Ezekiel 17:7]] implicitly points to this initial act of divine establishment.
2. **Expectation of Fruitfulness:** A planted vine or vineyard is established with the expectation of bearing fruit. This reflects God's desire for His people to live righteously and produce the "fruit of justice" ([[Isaiah 5:7]]). The failure of the vine in Ezekiel's parable to flourish under its proper care, seeking sustenance elsewhere, symbolizes Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness.
3. **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment:** The parable in Ezekiel also demonstrates God's sovereign control over the "planting" and "uprooting" of nations. While He establishes, He also judges when His "plant" deviates from the path He set for it. The vulnerability of the "plant" to external forces and its dependence on the right "water" (divine sustenance vs. foreign alliances) highlights the consequences of disobedience.
4. **Continuity in the New Testament:** The imagery of the vine culminates in the New Testament with Jesus declaring, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser" ([[John 15:1]]). While not using כַּנָּה, this profound statement builds upon the Old Testament's foundational understanding of God's established people as a vine, now fulfilled in Christ and His followers. The concept of being "set" or "established" in Christ is central to Christian discipleship.
### Summary
The Hebrew word כַּנָּה (kannâh, `{{H3657}}`) refers to "a plant (as set)" or, idiomatically, a "vineyard," emphasizing the deliberate act of establishment and the firm rooting of a cultivated entity. Its singular appearance in [[Ezekiel 17:7]] places it within a powerful prophetic allegory, where it describes the "beds of planting" for the vine representing Judah. Though rare, כַּנָּה draws upon the deeper theological motif of God as the divine Planter who establishes His people, Israel, with care and purpose, expecting fruitfulness. It underscores the themes of divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and the profound relationship between the Creator and His creation, a relationship that finds its ultimate expression in the New Testament's "true vine" imagery.
TRV