### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çᵉbâk**, represented by `{{H5442}}`, refers to a **copse** or **thicket**. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. The term consistently denotes a dense, tangled growth of trees or bushes, often found within a larger forest.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5442}}` is used in two primary contexts: divine provision and divine judgment. Most famously, it describes the **thicket** in which a ram was caught by its horns, providing a substitute for Abraham's sacrifice [[Genesis 22:13]]. In the book of Isaiah, the word shifts to a metaphorical use, where the **thickets** of the forest represent the overgrown state of wickedness that will be kindled by fire and cut down with iron as an act of judgment ([[Isaiah 9:18]], [[Isaiah 10:34]]). It also appears in Psalms to describe **thick** trees being cut down with axes [[Psalms 74:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of **çᵉbâk**:
* `{{H3293}}` **yaʻar** (forest): Often appearing alongside **çᵉbâk**, this term for **forest** or a copse of bushes helps define the setting of dense, wild growth [[Isaiah 10:34]].
* `{{H270}}` **ʼâchaz** (to seize): This verb, meaning to **seize** or take hold, is used to describe the ram **caught** in the thicket, highlighting the thicket's role as an entangling snare [[Genesis 22:13]].
* `{{H5362}}` **nâqaph** (to cut down): Used in the context of judgment, this word describes the action of hewing down the **thickets** of the forest, symbolizing the felling of the arrogant [[Isaiah 10:34]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5442}}` is demonstrated in its distinct applications:
* **A Locus of Divine Provision:** The most prominent use of `{{H5442}}` is in the account of Abraham and Isaac, where the **thicket** holds the ram provided by God as a substitute offering. It becomes the setting for a foundational act of divine intervention [[Genesis 22:13]].
* **A Symbol of Judgment:** In the prophecies of Isaiah, **thickets** represent a people or nation in a corrupt state. Wickedness is described as a fire that devours briers and kindles in the **thickets** [[Isaiah 9:18]], which are destined to be cut down as an act of judgment [[Isaiah 10:34]].
* **An Image of Entanglement:** Whether literally entangling a ram by its horns [[Genesis 22:13]] or figuratively representing the dense growth of wickedness that must be cleared by fire, **çᵉbâk** carries the idea of a tangled, impassable state that requires a powerful force to resolve.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5442}}` denotes a **thicket** or dense copse of trees. While it appears only a few times, its usage is significant. It serves both as the backdrop for a critical moment of divine provision in Genesis and as a powerful metaphor in Isaiah for the entanglement of wickedness that will ultimately face divine judgment. The word illustrates how a simple geographical feature can be imbued with profound theological meaning, representing both a snare and a site of salvation.
TRV