### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çançin**, represented by `{{H5577}}`, refers to a **twig (as tapering); bough**. It is a rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, making its context highly specific and significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5577}}` is in [[Song of Solomon 7:8]], where the speaker expresses intense desire for his beloved. In a rich poetic metaphor, he likens his beloved to a palm tree and declares, "I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the **boughs** thereof". Here, the word is used to represent an alluring feature of the beloved, with the act of grasping the **boughs** conveying a deep longing for intimacy.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its only context illuminate its meaning:
* `{{H8558}}` **tâmâr** (palm tree): This is the tree to which the **boughs** are attached. The palm tree itself is a biblical symbol of righteousness and flourishing [[Psalms 92:12]].
* `{{H270}}` **ʼâchaz** (to seize, take hold): This is the action the speaker desires to perform upon the **boughs**. The word signifies a desire to possess or fasten onto something [[Song of Solomon 7:8]].
* `{{H5927}}` **ʻâlâh** (to ascend, go up): This verb describes the act of climbing the palm tree to reach the **boughs**, emphasizing the speaker's active pursuit of his beloved.
### Theological Significance
The figurative weight of `{{H5577}}` is entirely drawn from its poetic setting in the Song of Solomon.
* **Metaphor of Intimacy:** The act of taking hold of the **boughs** of a palm tree is a powerful and intimate image, symbolizing romantic union and fulfillment.
* **Imagery of Pursuit:** The speaker's declaration, "I will go up... I will take hold" [[Song of Solomon 7:8]], frames the **boughs** as the goal of a passionate pursuit, highlighting a central theme of longing.
* **Symbol of Allure:** As part of the graceful palm tree `{{H8558}}`, the **boughs** contribute to an overall portrait of the beloved's beauty. This imagery is connected to fruitfulness, as the verse continues by comparing other features to "clusters of the vine" `{{H811}}` and "apples" `{{H8598}}`.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5577}}` is a highly specific term whose meaning is inseparable from its singular, metaphorical use. As the **boughs** of the beloved, who is portrayed as a palm tree, **çançin** functions as a symbol of physical allure and the object of intimate desire. Its significance is found not in a broad theological concept, but in its contribution to the rich and passionate imagery of love in the Song of Solomon.
TRV