### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **sîyach**, represented by `{{H7880}}`, refers to a **plant**, **shrub**, or **bush**. It appears 4 times in 4 unique verses in the Bible. The word is derived from a root meaning a "shoot," as if it were put forth from the ground.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H7880}}` is used to describe vegetation in different contexts, often highlighting conditions of barrenness or the beginning of life. In the creation account, it is mentioned as the **plant** of the field that did not yet exist because the Lord had not caused it to rain [[Genesis 2:5]]. Later, in a desolate setting, Hagar casts her son under one of the **shrubs** in the wilderness when their water was spent [[Genesis 21:15]]. The book of Job uses the term to depict the plight of the destitute, who brayed among the **bushes** [[Job 30:7]] and gathered food from them [[Job 30:4]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the role and environment of the **sîyach**:
* `{{H6212}}` **ʻeseb** (herb): Found alongside **sîyach** in the creation account, this term for a tender shoot or herb helps to paint a picture of the earth's vegetation before it fully grew [[Genesis 2:5]].
* `{{H2738}}` **chârûwl** (nettle): This word for a thorny weed or bramble appears with **sîyach** in Job's description of a desolate place where the desperate gather [[Job 30:7]].
* `{{H8328}}` **sheresh** (root): In Job, the roots of the juniper tree are gathered as food near the bushes, linking **sîyach** to the desperate act of foraging for every part of a plant for survival [[Job 30:4]].
### Theological Significance
The word `{{H7880}}` carries significance related to themes of divine provision and human hardship.
* **Divine Prerequisite for Life:** Its use in the creation narrative establishes that vegetation like the **plant** of the field is dependent on God's action, specifically His provision of rain, to grow [[Genesis 2:5]]. Without God's intervention, the earth remains un-tilled and barren.
* **Symbol of Desolation and Survival:** In both Genesis and Job, **shrubs** and **bushes** are markers of the wilderness and desolate places. They are associated with moments of extreme desperation, such as Hagar leaving her son under a shrub [[Genesis 21:15]] and the destitute foraging for food among them ([[Job 30:4]], [[Job 30:7]]).
* **Minimal Shelter and Sustenance:** The **sîyach** represents the most basic level of provision offered by the natural world in harsh conditions. It is not a mighty tree or a cultivated crop but a simple bush offering a sliver of shade or a meager food source for those on the edge of survival.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7880}}` **sîyach** is a specific term for shrubbery that, while appearing only four times, illustrates a significant contrast. It appears first in the Genesis account as a **plant** awaiting God's life-giving rain to spring forth [[Genesis 2:5]]. In its other appearances, it marks landscapes of desolation, serving as the backdrop for human suffering and the desperate search for survival in the wilderness ([[Genesis 21:15]], [[Job 30:4]], [[Job 30:7]]). The word connects the beginning of vegetation to the harsh realities of life in an untamed world.
TRV