### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsânam**, represented by `{{H6798}}`, is a primitive root meaning to **blast** or **shrink**. It is a highly specific term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, where it is translated as **withered**. Its singular use emphasizes a state of being dried up and shrunken.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H6798}}` is in the account of Pharaoh's dream in Genesis. In this narrative, Pharaoh recounts seeing "seven ears, **withered**, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them" [[Genesis 41:23]]. The word is part of a cluster of terms used to paint a vivid picture of agricultural failure and impending famine, standing in stark contrast to the healthy ears of grain that preceded them.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context illuminate the meaning of `{{H6798}}`:
* `{{H1851}}` **daq** (small or thin): This word appears alongside `{{H6798}}` to describe the same shrunken ears of grain in Pharaoh's dream, emphasizing their lack of substance and fullness [[Genesis 41:23]].
* `{{H7710}}` **shâdaph** (to scorch; blast): Used in direct conjunction with `{{H6798}}`, this term amplifies the idea of destruction by heat or wind. The ears are not just withered but also **blasted** [[Genesis 41:23]].
* `{{H6921}}` **qâdîym** (east wind): This word identifies the destructive force that caused the ears to become withered. The hot, dry **east wind** was known for its power to scorch vegetation [[Genesis 41:23]], a theme also seen when it is said to have "dried up her fruit" and "withered" her rods [[Ezekiel 19:12]].
* `{{H7641}}` **shibbôl** (ear of grain): This is the object described as **withered**. It represents the produce of the land and is central to the imagery of both abundance and famine in the dream [[Genesis 41:26]].
### Theological Significance
The thematic weight of `{{H6798}}` is tied entirely to its singular, impactful context in Genesis.
* **Symbol of Coming Famine:** The primary significance of `{{H6798}}` is its role as a symbol in Pharaoh's prophetic dream. The **withered** ears directly represent the "seven years of famine" that will strike the land, serving as a divine warning [[Genesis 41:27]].
* **A Picture of Blight and Scarcity:** Paired with words like **thin** `{{H1851}}` and **blasted** `{{H7710}}`, **tsânam** paints a vivid picture of agricultural blight. It stands in direct opposition to the healthy ears, illustrating the contrast between God-given abundance and God-ordained scarcity [[Genesis 41:23]].
* **Result of a Destructive Force:** The withering is explicitly attributed to the **east wind** `{{H6921}}`, a natural force often depicted in scripture as an instrument of divine action. This connects the state of being **withered** not to a random event, but to a powerful, directed force [[Genesis 41:23]].
### Summary
In summary, **tsânam** `{{H6798}}` is a specific and rare term whose entire meaning in scripture is drawn from a single, powerful image. Appearing only once, it functions as a key descriptor in Pharaoh's dream, defining the **withered** state of grain that symbolizes impending famine. It works with other terms to create an unforgettable picture of blight and serves as a reminder of how a single word, within a specific narrative context, can carry significant prophetic weight [[Genesis 41:23]].
TRV