### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çâʻaph**, represented by `{{H5586}}`, is a primitive root defined as to disbranch a tree or to top it. This specific term appears only **1 time** in the entire Bible, yet its singular use provides a potent image of divine action. It is used to describe the act of lopping or cutting off, particularly in the context of judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5586}}` is in [[Isaiah 10:33]], where it depicts a powerful act of God. The verse states, "Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall **lop** the bough with terror." In this context, the action is not a simple agricultural task but a metaphor for divine judgment. God is portrayed as the one who cuts down the prideful and powerful, just as a tall bough is severed from a tree. This act targets the "high ones of stature" and the "haughty" who are destined to be humbled.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words found in the same context illuminate the meaning of lopping as an act of judgment:
* `{{H1438}}` **gâdaʻ** (to fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything; cut... down, off): This word appears in the same verse, stating that the "high ones of stature shall be **hewn down**." It reinforces the theme of destruction and is used elsewhere to describe how Lucifer is "cut down to the ground" [[Isaiah 14:12]].
* `{{H6288}}` **pᵉʼôrâh** (foliage (including the limbs) as bright green; bough, branch, sprig): This is the object of the action in [[Isaiah 10:33]]. The **bough** represents the lofty and beautiful parts of a tree, often used as a metaphor for the flourishing power of a nation or individual, as seen in Ezekiel's description of a great nation's "branches" [[Ezekiel 31:8]].
* `{{H8213}}` **shâphêl** (to depress or sink... to humiliate, abase, bring... low): This word describes the result of the lopping. The verse concludes that the haughty "shall be **humbled**." This connects the physical act of cutting down with the spiritual and social consequence of abasement, a theme echoed in God's promise to have "brought down the high tree" [[Ezekiel 17:24]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5586}}` is concentrated in its single, vivid application.
* **Divine Judgment on Pride:** The primary theme is God's response to arrogance. The act to "lop the bough with terror" is directed specifically at "the high ones of stature" and "the haughty" [[Isaiah 10:33]]. This demonstrates that pride invites divine opposition.
* **The Sovereignty of God:** The one performing the action is "the Lord, the LORD of hosts" `{{H113}}`, `{{H3068}}`, `{{H6635}}`. This emphasizes that ultimate authority rests with God, who has the power to abase the proud and bring down even the mightiest powers, as a man fells a tree.
* **The Metaphor of the Tree:** Using a tree's bough to represent a powerful entity makes the act of lopping a powerful illustration. Just as a high branch is cut down, so too are the arrogant brought low by God's judgment [[Isaiah 10:33]]. This is consistent with other passages where God brings low the high tree and exalts the low tree [[Ezekiel 17:24]].
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H5586}}` is one of the rarest words in the biblical text, its meaning is clear and impactful. As a term for lopping or disbranching, its single use in Isaiah paints a formidable picture of God's sovereign power. It serves as a stark reminder that God is the one who humbles the proud, cutting down the haughty as one would lop the highest bough from a tree.
TRV