from the same as צֶמֶר; fleeciness, i.e. foliage; highest branch, top.
Transliteration:tsammereth
Pronunciation:tsam-meh'-reth
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word tsammereth (`{{H6788}}`) is directly derived from tsemer (`{{H6785}}`), which signifies "wool" or "fleece." This etymological connection provides the foundational meaning of tsammereth as "fleeciness," evoking a sense of softness, density, or a clustered appearance. From this core concept, the semantic range expands to describe the dense, collective foliage of a tree, often specifically referring to the "highest branch" or the "top" of a tree. Thus, tsammereth denotes the uppermost part of a tree, particularly its crown, emphasizing both its visual quality (like dense wool) and its elevated position. It can refer to a single prominent branch at the apex or the entire canopy of leaves at the top.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Tsammereth (`{{H6788}}`) appears in several significant prophetic contexts:
* **Ezekiel 17:3**: "A great eagle with great wings...came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar." Here, tsammereth clearly signifies the "highest branch" or the very top shoot of the cedar tree. In this parable, the eagle represents Babylon, Lebanon represents Judah, and the tsammereth (highest branch) symbolizes King Jehoiachin, taken into exile. The imagery highlights the prominence and initial vigor of the tree's crown.
* **Ezekiel 17:22**: "I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and an eminent." Continuing the parable, God declares His intention to take a "tender one" from the tsammereth (highest branch) and replant it. This signifies God's sovereign action in raising up a new, righteous leader from the Davidic line, a messianic prophecy. It again emphasizes the top, vigorous part of the tree, capable of new growth.
* **Ezekiel 31:3**: "Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches...and his top was among the thick boughs." Here, tsammereth is translated as "top" or "highest part" of the cedar (Assyria), underscoring its immense height, stature, and dominance among nations. The word emphasizes the nation's lofty position and widespread influence.
* **Isaiah 17:9**: "In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation." The phrase "uppermost branch" (tsammereth) is used in parallel with "forsaken bough," describing the remnants of a destroyed place. It depicts a state of utter desolation, where only isolated, high parts remain, signifying abandonment and ruin.
* **Isaiah 27:10**: "For the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof." In this context of desolation, tsammereth is translated as "branches thereof" or "foliage." It speaks to the complete destruction and abandonment of a city, where even its protective foliage is consumed, indicating absolute ruin.
Across these occurrences, tsammereth consistently refers to the uppermost part of a tree, often a cedar, metaphorically representing leadership, power, or a significant part of a nation. Its fate (being taken, replanted, or consumed) directly reflects the destiny of the entity it symbolizes.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H6785}}` צֶמֶר (tsemer)**: The direct root, meaning "wool" or "fleece." This connection provides the core imagery of tsammereth as a dense, soft, and often rounded mass, like the crown of a tree.
* **`{{H6057}}` עָנָף ('anaph)**: A more general term for "branch" or "bough." While tsammereth can denote a highest branch, anaph refers to any branch. Tsammereth specifically highlights the *topmost* or *collective foliage* of the tree's crown.
* **Tree imagery**: The Bible frequently employs the metaphor of trees to represent individuals, nations, or kingdoms. Tsammereth contributes to this rich symbolic language by focusing on the *crown* or *highest point* of these metaphorical trees, often signifying their glory, power, or leadership.
* **Remnant**: In contexts of judgment (e.g., Isaiah 17:9), tsammereth can subtly imply a remnant, though not necessarily a preserved or blessed one, but rather the isolated, highest part left after widespread destruction.
* **Pride and exaltation**: Given its association with the "highest" part of a tree, tsammereth inherently carries connotations of height, prominence, and sometimes, the pride that accompanies such exaltation before a fall.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of tsammereth (`{{H6788}}`) is deeply embedded in its prophetic usage, where it serves as a powerful metaphor for divine sovereignty, human leadership, and the consequences of judgment and restoration.
1. **Divine Sovereignty over Human Leadership**: In Ezekiel 17, the tsammereth of the cedar represents King Jehoiachin, a powerful symbol of Judah's leadership. God's act of allowing this "highest branch" to be taken by the "great eagle" (Babylon) powerfully illustrates His ultimate control over the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms. No human authority, however exalted, is beyond God's reach or His divine plan.
2. **Promise of Messianic Restoration**: Crucially, Ezekiel 17:22 presents God's counter-action: He Himself will take a "tender one" from the tsammereth (`{{H6788}}`) of the high cedar and plant it on a high mountain. This is a profound messianic prophecy, pointing to the future restoration of the Davidic line and the establishment of God's righteous King, Jesus Christ. It underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant and His power to bring new life and hope even from apparent desolation.
3. **Warning Against Pride and Judgment**: In Ezekiel 31:3, the tsammereth of the Assyrian cedar signifies its immense pride and perceived invincibility. Its lofty position among other nations, reaching "among the thick boughs," speaks of its arrogance and self-exaltation. The subsequent pronouncement of judgment on this mighty cedar serves as a stark theological warning: God opposes the proud, and even the most formidable human empires, with their impressive tsammereth, will be brought low by His righteous hand.
4. **Completeness of Desolation**: In Isaiah 17:9 and 27:10, tsammereth depicts the thoroughness of divine judgment. The "uppermost branch" left as a desolate remnant or the "branches thereof" consumed by grazing animals vividly portrays the stripping away of glory, prosperity, and even the very substance of a nation. This illustrates the comprehensive nature of God's judgment upon sin and rebellion.
Thus, tsammereth (`{{H6788}}`) transcends a mere botanical description. It is a rich metaphorical term employed by the prophets to convey profound truths about God's absolute sovereignty, the fragility of human power, the certainty of divine judgment, and the enduring promise of messianic restoration.
### Summary
The Hebrew word tsammereth (`{{H6788}}`), derived from the root for "wool" (`{{H6785}}`), primarily denotes "fleeciness," which extends to signify the dense "foliage," "highest branch," or "top" of a tree. It consistently refers to the uppermost part of a tree, particularly its crown, emphasizing both its visual density and its elevated position.
Biblically, tsammereth is found in prophetic literature, notably in Ezekiel and Isaiah. It frequently symbolizes leadership, sovereignty, or a prominent part of a nation, especially when referring to the "highest branch" or "top" of a cedar (Ezekiel 17:3, 17:22, 31:3). Its fate in these contexts directly mirrors the destiny of the entity it represents—whether taken into exile, replanted by divine hand, or brought low in judgment. In Isaiah (17:9, 27:10), tsammereth vividly portrays the desolation and completeness of divine judgment, depicting cities as abandoned, with only remnants of their "uppermost branches" or consumed "foliage" left.
Theologically, tsammereth serves as a powerful metaphor for God's absolute sovereignty over earthly powers, highlighting both His capacity for righteous judgment against human pride and His faithfulness in bringing about restoration through a chosen remnant, ultimately pointing to the messianic hope. The word's imagery, rooted in the visual of a tree's crown, thus communicates profound truths about power, judgment, and the ultimate control of the divine Hand in human history.
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