### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çâʻîyph**, represented by `{{H5585}}`, is defined as a fissure of rocks or a bough of a tree, and can be translated as an outmost branch, clift, or top. It is derived from the word סָעַף. According to biblical usage statistics, it appears a total of **6 times** in **6 unique verses**, highlighting its specific and dual application to both geology and botany.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H5585}}` carries two distinct meanings depending on the context. It can refer to the **branches** of a tree, as seen in prophecies of desolation where cattle "consume the **branches** thereof" [[Isaiah 27:10]] and where a remnant is described as a few berries on the "outmost fruitful **branches**" [[Isaiah 17:6]]. Alternatively, it denotes a feature of a rock formation, such as a high place or fissure. Samson, for example, dwelt "in the **top** of the rock Etam" [[Judges 15:8]], and men from Judah went to this same **top** of the rock to find him [[Judges 15:11]]. It is also used to describe a place of hiding from God's judgment, "into the **tops** of the ragged rocks" [[Isaiah 2:21]], and a location for sinful rites "under the **clifts** of the rocks" [[Isaiah 57:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning of `{{H5585}}` by providing additional context for rocks and branches:
* `{{H534}}` **ʼâmîyr** (bough, branch): Defined as a summit of a tree or mountain. It appears alongside `{{H5585}}` in [[Isaiah 17:6]], where the "uppermost **bough**" is mentioned just before the "outmost fruitful branches," indicating a close relationship in describing the parts of a tree.
* `{{H5366}}` **nᵉqârâh** (cleft, clift): Meaning a fissure. This word is used in conjunction with `{{H5585}}` in [[Isaiah 2:21]] to describe places of hiding, "into the **clefts** of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks."
* `{{H5553}}` **çelaʻ** ((ragged) rock, stone(-ny), strong hold): A craggy rock. This term is frequently associated with `{{H5585}}`, which often describes a feature of a **çelaʻ**, such as the "top of the **rock** Etam" [[Judges 15:8]] or the "clifts of the **rocks**" [[Isaiah 57:5]].
* `{{H6697}}` **tsûwr** (rock, strength): A cliff or boulder, often used figuratively as a refuge or for God. It appears with `{{H5585}}` in [[Isaiah 2:21]], where people flee to the "clefts of the **rocks**" for fear of the LORD.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5585}}` is revealed in its consistent association with themes of refuge, judgment, and remnant.
* **Place of Refuge or Hiding:** The word identifies remote or defensible locations. Samson used the "top of the rock Etam" as a dwelling and stronghold [[Judges 15:8]]. In a prophetic context, people hide in the "tops of the ragged rocks" to escape the terror of the LORD [[Isaiah 2:21]].
* **Site of Judgment and Sin:** These locations are not always positive. Isaiah connects the "clifts of the rocks" with the sinful, idolatrous practice of child sacrifice [[Isaiah 57:5]]. The destruction of the "branches" of a city signifies its complete desolation [[Isaiah 27:10]].
* **Symbol of a Divine Remnant:** In the context of a harvest, the few berries left on the "outmost fruitful branches" symbolize the small remnant that the LORD God of Israel will preserve [[Isaiah 17:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5585}}` is a specific term that designates either the outer branches of a tree or a high fissure in a rock. Its significance is derived from its context, representing places of physical refuge, spiritual corruption, divine judgment, and the hope of a preserved remnant. Whether describing a feature of a tree or a rock, **çâʻîyph** consistently points to a particular, often extreme, location that holds deep consequence in the biblical narrative.
TRV