### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word `{{H5442}}` (סְבָךְ, *çᵉbâk*) is a masculine noun derived from the verbal root `{{H5440}}` (סָבַךְ, *savak*), which means "to intertwine," "to entangle," or "to interweave." As a noun, *çᵉbâk* therefore refers to a place characterized by such intertwined vegetation. Its core meaning denotes a "thicket" or "copse"—a dense growth of bushes, shrubs, or small trees whose branches are interwoven and entangled, making passage difficult. The semantic range emphasizes the density, interwovenness, and often the impenetrability of such a growth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H5442}}` appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, yet each occurrence carries significant weight due to its specific context:
* **[[Genesis 22:13]]**: This is the most prominent and theologically rich occurrence. In the narrative of Abraham's binding of Isaac on Mount Moriah, God intervenes at the last moment, providing a substitute sacrifice: "And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns." The "thicket" (סְבָךְ) here is crucial. It is the very place where God's provision is found. The ram's entrapment in the dense, interwoven branches highlights that it is held fast and available for sacrifice, underscoring the divine precision and timeliness of the provision. The thicket, therefore, becomes a symbol of the place where God's miraculous intervention and faithful provision manifest.
* **[[Psalm 74:5]]**: This verse occurs within a lament over the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The psalmist describes the invaders' actions: "They were like men who lift axes against a thicket of trees." In this context, *çᵉbâk* refers to a dense, formidable growth of trees that requires significant effort and implements (axes) to cut down. Here, it symbolizes a strong, perhaps ancient, barrier that is being systematically and thoroughly destroyed. The image conveys the ruthlessness and completeness of the desecration, where even the most resilient natural formations are being leveled.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root `{{H5440}}` (סָבָךְ, *savak*), from which *çᵉbâk* is derived. This root's meaning of "to intertwine" or "to entangle" is fundamental to understanding the noun's emphasis on dense, interwoven growth.
Other Hebrew words referring to vegetation or forested areas include:
* `{{H3293}}` (יַעַר, *ya'ar*): A more general term for "forest" or "woodland."
* `{{H2812}}` (חֹרֶשׁ, *choresh*): Often denotes a "forest" or "wooded height," sometimes implying a wilder, denser area.
* `{{H5188}}` (נֹעַר, *no'ar*): Can refer to "young growth" or a "thicket," similar in semantic range to *çᵉbâk* but perhaps without the same emphasis on entanglement.
The concept of "entanglement" itself is central to *çᵉbâk*, connecting it to themes of being caught, held, or even entrapped, which is vividly illustrated by the ram in [[Genesis 22:13]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *çᵉbâk* is profoundly shaped by its rare but impactful appearances:
* **Divine Provision and Substitution**: The most significant theological weight rests on its use in [[Genesis 22:13]]. The ram caught in the thicket is a powerful type, or foreshadowing, of God's ultimate provision of a substitute sacrifice for humanity's sin. The thicket, therefore, becomes a sacred space where God's faithfulness, omnipotence, and mercy are tangibly demonstrated. It highlights that even in the most dire and seemingly hopeless situations, God provides precisely what is needed, at the precise moment. This narrative undergirds the concept of vicarious atonement.
* **Obstruction and Destruction**: In [[Psalm 74:5]], the thicket represents a formidable natural barrier that is violently cut down. Theologically, this illustrates the devastating impact of divine judgment or the actions of those who oppose God's people. It conveys the thoroughness of destruction when God allows His sanctuary to be desecrated, underscoring the severity of such events.
* **The Wild and God's Control**: A thicket is an untamed, wild part of nature. Its appearance in a pivotal moment like the binding of Isaac suggests that God's sovereignty extends even to the wild, uncultivated aspects of creation, orchestrating events within them for His redemptive purposes.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H5442}}` (סְבָךְ, *çᵉbâk*) denotes a "thicket" or "copse," emphasizing the dense, interwoven, and often impenetrable nature of its vegetation, derived from the verb "to intertwine" (`{{H5440}}`). Though only appearing twice in the biblical text, its occurrences are immensely significant. In [[Genesis 22:13]], the ram caught in the thicket serves as a profound symbol of God's precise and timely divine provision, offering a substitute sacrifice for Isaac and foreshadowing the ultimate atonement. In [[Psalm 74:5]], *çᵉbâk* describes a dense growth of trees being cut down, symbolizing thorough destruction and desecration. Theologically, *çᵉbâk* speaks powerfully to God's miraculous intervention and substitution in moments of crisis, highlighting His faithfulness and sovereign control even in the wild, untamed aspects of creation. It encapsulates a place of both entrapment and unexpected, divine deliverance.
TRV