for סֹבֶךְ; a thicket, i.e. interlaced branches; thick boughs.
Transliteration:sôwbek
Pronunciation:so'-bek
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term שׂוֹבֶךְ (sôwbek), Strong's number `{{H7730}}`, derives from a root related to `{{H5440}}` (sabak), meaning "to entangle" or "to intertwine." As such, its core meaning denotes a "thicket," specifically emphasizing a dense, interwoven mass of branches, boughs, or undergrowth. It describes vegetation that is so closely knit as to form a natural barrier or a place of concealment. The term highlights the characteristic of being "interlaced" or "thick boughs," implying a natural density that can be difficult to penetrate or navigate.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word שׂוֹבֶךְ (sôwbek) appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, but its two occurrences are highly significant and provide distinct contextual nuances:
1. **[[Genesis 22:13]]:** This is perhaps the most famous occurrence. Following God's command for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham looks up and sees "a ram caught in a thicket by its horns." Here, the שׂוֹבֶךְ serves as the precise location of divine provision. It is a natural, wild element, yet it becomes the very instrument through which God's miraculous intervention and substitutionary sacrifice are made manifest. The thicket, by its nature of entanglement, holds the ram securely, making it available for Abraham.
2. **[[Psalm 74:5]]:** In this lament psalm, the psalmist describes the invaders who have desecrated the sanctuary, stating, "They seemed like men who lift axes against a thicket of trees" (or "hewing down the thickets"). In this context, the שׂוֹבֶךְ represents dense woodland or a forest that is being violently cut down. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the ruthless and destructive actions of the enemies against God's holy place, reducing it to rubble as one would clear a dense forest.
These two occurrences showcase the word's capacity to signify both a place of divine intervention and a scene of human desecration, though always retaining its core meaning of dense, intertwined vegetation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root `{{H5440}}` (sabak), from which שׂוֹבֶךְ (sôwbek) is derived, meaning "to entangle, intertwine, interweave." This root underscores the key characteristic of the thicket—its dense, interwoven nature.
Other Hebrew words for "bush," "forest," or "woodland" that share a semantic field but differ in specific nuance include:
* `{{H5518}}` (seneh): Specifically refers to the "bush" from which God spoke to Moses (e.g., [[Exodus 3:2]]).
* `{{H3293}}` (ya'ar): A more general term for "forest" or "wood."
* `{{H2028}}` (choresh): Another term for "wooded height" or "forest."
The concept of entanglement is also present in other contexts, often with negative connotations (e.g., being caught in a snare), but in the case of the ram in Genesis, the entanglement is providentially positive.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of שׂוֹבֶךְ (sôwbek) is profoundly shaped by its appearance in the Akedah narrative ([[Genesis 22]]). Here, the thicket is not merely a topographical detail but a crucial element in God's redemptive plan. It is the divinely appointed location where the substitute sacrifice, a ram, is found. This highlights:
* **Divine Provision:** The thicket becomes a symbol of God's faithfulness and His sovereign ability to provide a way out of an impossible demand, demonstrating that He "will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering" ([[Genesis 22:8]]).
* **Substitutionary Atonement:** The ram caught in the thicket prefigures the concept of substitutionary sacrifice, pointing ultimately to Christ, who would be the true Lamb of God provided by the Father. The entanglement of the ram in the thicket signifies its capture and availability for this divine purpose.
* **God's Control over Nature:** Even in the wild and untamed environment of a thicket, God's hand is evident, orchestrating events precisely for His purposes.
In [[Psalm 74:5]], the theological significance shifts to human action and its devastating consequences. The "hewing down" of the thickets symbolizes the ruthless destruction of God's sanctuary, representing desecration and a profound lament over the loss of sacred space. This illustrates the vulnerability of divine institutions to human violence and the pain of their destruction.
Thus, the word encapsulates a dichotomy: a place of miraculous divine intervention and a metaphor for human-wrought devastation.
### Summary
The Hebrew word שׂוֹבֶךְ (sôwbek), `{{H7730}}`, refers to a "thicket" or "interlaced branches," emphasizing dense and intertwined vegetation. Though rare in its biblical occurrences, its presence carries significant theological weight. In [[Genesis 22:13]], the thicket serves as the providential location where God provides the ram as a substitute sacrifice for Isaac, underscoring themes of divine provision and substitutionary atonement. Conversely, in [[Psalm 74:5]], the cutting down of the thickets metaphorically depicts the violent destruction and desecration of the sanctuary, highlighting human malice and the lament over such devastation. Despite its simple literal meaning, שׂוֹבֶךְ thus functions as a powerful backdrop for both divine action and human suffering in the biblical narrative.
TRV