### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çûwr**, represented by `{{H5494}}`, describes something that is **degenerate**. Its base definition indicates a state of being turned off or deteriorated. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, making its single usage a point of significant metaphorical weight.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5494}}` is in [[Jeremiah 2:21]], where God rebukes Israel for its spiritual decay. The verse powerfully contrasts Israel's origins with its current state. God recounts, "Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed," establishing a perfect beginning. The verse then poses a sorrowful question: "how then art thou turned into the **degenerate plant** of a strange vine unto me?" [[Jeremiah 2:21]]. Here, `{{H5494}}` captures the essence of this corruption, portraying a fall from a state of purity into one of worthlessness and ruin.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its context illuminate the meaning of `{{H5494}}`:
* `{{H8321}}` **sôrêq** (choice(-st, noble) wine): This term describes the original state of Israel, planted as a "noble vine" of the highest quality. It stands in direct opposition to the concept of being degenerate.
* `{{H2015}}` **hâphak** (to turn about or over): This verb describes the action of transformation. In [[Jeremiah 2:21]], it is the process by which the noble vine becomes a degenerate plant, signifying a perversion of its original nature.
* `{{H5237}}` **nokrîy** (strange, foreign): This word defines the new character of the vine after its change. It is no longer what God intended but has become an alien or foreign entity, completely different from its "right seed" [[Jeremiah 2:21]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5494}}` is concentrated in its singular, potent application.
* **Divine Planting and Corruption:** The term is central to the metaphor of God as a planter `{{H5193}}` who starts with a "noble vine" `{{H8321}}` and a "right seed" `{{H2233}}`. The state of being "degenerate" represents the profound tragedy of a perfect creation becoming corrupted.
* **Metaphor for Apostasy:** `{{H5494}}` serves as a stark metaphor for turning away from God. Israel, intended to be a source of good, has instead deteriorated into something unrecognizable and "strange" `{{H5237}}`.
* **Consequence of Turning:** The word is the result of an action—being "turned" `{{H2015}}`. This highlights that the degenerate state is not an original condition but a fall from a place of high standing and truth `{{H571}}`.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5494}}` is a rare but deeply significant word. Its single use in [[Jeremiah 2:21]] powerfully illustrates the concept of spiritual decay. It encapsulates the journey from a divinely established state of excellence as a "noble vine" `{{H8321}}` to a corrupted and "strange" `{{H5237}}` condition. The word serves as a solemn biblical illustration of how something pure and purposefully planted can become degenerate through turning away from its creator.
TRV