a primitive root; to entwine; fold together, wrap.
Transliteration:çâbak
Pronunciation:saw-bak'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H5440}}` (סָבַךְ, *çâbak*) is a primitive root whose core meaning revolves around the concept of "to entwine," "to interweave," or "to tangle." It implies a complex joining or binding together of separate elements, often resulting in a dense or intricate formation. The semantic range extends to actions of folding together or wrapping, always carrying the nuance of multiple strands or parts becoming intricately connected. This root inherently suggests a state of being caught, intertwined, or intricately joined. Its most prominent manifestation in the biblical text is through the derived noun `{{H5441}}`, which refers to a "thicket" or "dense growth," a direct physical embodiment of the root's meaning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb `{{H5440}}` appears in the Qal stem in two distinct passages, while its meaning is further elucidated by its nominal derivative `{{H5441}}`.
1. **[[Job 8:17]]**: "His roots are wrapped around the stone heap; he looks on a house of stones." (וְצַמְּתוֹ סָבַךְ בֵּית אֲבָנִים יֶחֱזֶה).
* Here, the verb *çâbak* describes the action of a plant's roots intertwining or wrapping themselves around a stone structure. This imagery powerfully conveys the deep-seated establishment and tenacious grip of the roots, illustrating the plant's resilience and ability to secure itself even in a challenging environment. The act of "wrapping" or "entwining" speaks to a strong, unyielding hold.
2. **[[Nahum 1:10]]**: "For while they are like tangled thorns, and like drunkards reeling, they are consumed like stubble fully dried." (כִּי עַד סִירִים סְבוּכִים וְכִסְבָאָם סָבְאִים אֻכְּלוּ כְּקַשׁ יָבֵשׁ מָלֵא).
* In this verse, the form is a passive participle, *sebhukim*, meaning "entangled" or "interwoven." It is used metaphorically to describe the enemies of God's people as "tangled thorns." This metaphor suggests their chaotic, intertwined, and perhaps seemingly impenetrable nature, making them a formidable obstacle. However, the immediate context contrasts this apparent strength with their ultimate vulnerability to divine judgment, likening them to dry stubble easily consumed by fire. The entanglement, while seemingly robust, offers no protection against God's wrath.
The meaning of `{{H5440}}` is further reinforced by the noun `{{H5441}}` (thicket), which appears in contexts such as [[Genesis 22:13]] (the ram caught in the thicket) and [[Isaiah 9:18]] (forest thickets consumed by fire), consistently pointing to dense, interwoven vegetation.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H5441}}` (סְבָךְ, *sebhakh*):** This is the direct nominal derivative of `{{H5440}}`, meaning "thicket" or "tangle." Its most famous occurrence in [[Genesis 22:13]], where a ram is caught in a thicket, is crucial for understanding the broader theological implications of the root.
* **Words for Binding and Joining:** While not etymologically related, other Hebrew words that convey concepts of binding (e.g., אָסַר, *'asar*, `{{H631}}`), joining (e.g., חָבַר, *chabar*, `{{H2266}}`), or weaving (e.g., אָרַג, *'arag*, `{{H707}}`) share a semantic field of bringing elements together. However, `{{H5440}}` specifically emphasizes the *complex intertwining* or *entanglement* rather than a simple connection or secure fastening.
* **Vegetation Imagery:** The consistent association of `{{H5440}}` and `{{H5441}}` with roots, thorns, and thickets firmly places this root within the biblical lexicon of natural imagery. Such imagery is frequently employed metaphorically to describe human conditions, divine judgment, or acts of divine provision.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H5440}}` is primarily derived from its few direct occurrences and, more profoundly, from the narrative contexts involving its nominal derivative, `{{H5441}}`.
1. **Divine Provision and Substitution (via `{{H5441}}`):** The most poignant theological implication arises from [[Genesis 22:13]], where a ram is discovered "caught in a thicket by its horns" (בָּאֲחֻזָה בַּסְּבָךְ בְּקַרְנָיו). This thicket, a dense and interwoven mass, becomes the divinely appointed instrument through which a substitute sacrifice is provided for Isaac. The ram's "entanglement" in the thicket is not an unfortunate accident but the very means by which God's redemptive plan unfolds. It powerfully illustrates God's meticulous and sovereign provision, even in moments of profound crisis, and serves as a profound foreshadowing of the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice.
2. **Tenacity and Resilience:** In [[Job 8:17]], the image of roots *entwined* around stones speaks to the enduring nature of life and the capacity for deep establishment, even in seemingly barren or adverse conditions. While Bildad's application of this imagery to Job is flawed, the inherent meaning of the verb conveys a powerful sense of an unyielding grip and a secure, deep-seated foundation. It suggests a capacity to adapt, penetrate, and secure a firm hold.
3. **Vulnerability of Opposition:** The "tangled thorns" in [[Nahum 1:10]] portray the enemies of God as seemingly formidable due to their intertwined and perhaps impenetrable nature. However, their very entanglement ultimately makes them susceptible to complete consumption by divine judgment. What appears strong and intricately organized is, in fact, brittle and combustible when confronted by God's wrath. This highlights the futility of human resistance against divine power, regardless of how intricately organized or seemingly resilient it may appear.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H5440}}` (סָבַךְ, *çâbak*) fundamentally means "to entwine," "to interweave," or "to wrap together." While the verb itself appears infrequently, its core meaning is richly illuminated by its nominal derivative, `{{H5441}}` (thicket), which signifies a dense, complex entanglement.
Contextual analysis reveals the root's application in both literal and metaphorical senses. In [[Job 8:17]], it describes the physical intertwining of roots, symbolizing tenacity and deep establishment. In [[Nahum 1:10]], it metaphorically portrays enemies as "tangled thorns," emphasizing their chaotic and ultimately vulnerable nature.
Theologically, the most profound significance of this root, particularly through `{{H5441}}`, is found in the narrative of Abraham's sacrifice in [[Genesis 22:13]]. Here, the thicket becomes the providential means by which God provides the substitute ram, underscoring divine provision and the theme of substitutionary atonement. Thus, while simple in its core meaning, `{{H5440}}` contributes to rich biblical imagery concerning resilience, the futility of human opposition, and, most profoundly, God's sovereign and merciful provision for His people.
TRV