Word Study for H5473 (סוּג) | Strong's Concordance

çûwg /soog/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root (probably rather identical with סוּג through the idea of shrinking from a hedge; compare שׂוּג)

Meaningto hem in, i.e. bind

KJV usageset about.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of çûwg — 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 çûwg, represented by H5473, is a primitive root meaning to hem in, bind, or set about. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, making its specific context highly significant. Its meaning is associated with creating a border or enclosure, potentially stemming from the idea of a hedge.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single biblical occurrence of H5473 is found in a poetic description of physical beauty in the Song of Solomon. In this passage, the beloved's form is compared to a "heap of wheat set about with lilies" Song of Solomon 7:2. Here, the word does not imply confinement but rather adornment, suggesting a beautiful, decorative border of lilies encircling the image of wheat, which symbolizes abundance and life.

Related Words & Concepts

The imagery in its only context is enriched by several related words from the same verse:

H6194 ʻârêm (a heap; specifically, a sheaf): This is the object being "set about." It is used elsewhere to describe literal piles of grain Ruth 3:7, tithes 2 Chronicles 31:6, and even rubble Nehemiah 4:2.
H7799 shûwshan (a lily): These flowers form the beautiful border. The lily is used in scripture as a symbol of beauty, growth, and love, often appearing in the Song of Solomon Song of Solomon 2:16 and as an image of Israel's flourishing Hosea 14:5.
H101 ʼaggân (basin, cup, goblet): This word appears in the same verse, describing the navel as a round goblet. It is also used for sacred vessels, such as the basons used by Moses to hold blood for the altar Exodus 24:6.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H5473 is derived entirely from its singular, illustrative use.

Aesthetic Framing: The word's primary function in scripture is to frame an object with beauty. It shows how a boundary can be decorative and enhancing rather than restrictive.
Symbolic Imagery: By being "set about with lilies," the "heap of wheat" is elevated from a simple agricultural image to one of exquisite beauty and preciousness.
Poetic Description: The use of H5473 demonstrates the Bible's use of precise language to create vivid, sensory metaphors, particularly in describing the beauty of the human form as a reflection of nature's bounty.

Summary

In summary, H5473 is a rare biblical term whose meaning of "to set about" or "hem in" is used for powerful poetic effect. Its lone appearance in Song of Solomon 7:2 transforms a simple boundary into a decorative frame, enriching the metaphorical language of the text. It stands as an example of how even the most infrequently used words can contribute unique depth and beauty to the scriptural narrative.

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 a verb across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

סוּגָה

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 Song of Solomon — 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.