זָמִיר (za.mir)
za.mir
branch
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun zāmīr refers specifically to a branch that has been trimmed or pruned. It does not describe a wild shoot growing unchecked, but rather wood shaped by human care. In the Bible, this word appears only once, in Song of Solomon 2:12.
Its meaning is rooted in the act of cutting away excess to encourage growth. The sources define it as "trimming" or "pruning," highlighting the intentional work of a gardener. This distinguishes it from other words for wood or tree parts; zāmīr implies purposeful shaping, suggesting that what remains is valuable and ready for use.
Translators often render this word simply as "branch" to fit the poetic flow, but the underlying sense of careful cultivation adds depth. The image evokes a vineyard where every cut serves a greater purpose, reflecting the tenderness and attention found in the beloved’s description of their relationship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zāmīr describes a branch that has been carefully trimmed by human hands. It is not a wild shoot growing unchecked, but wood shaped with intention. This image suggests that value often comes through deliberate care rather than random growth.
In Song of Solomon 2:12, the appearance of these pruned branches signals a season of renewal. The trimming was not meant to harm the plant, but to encourage it to bear fruit and beauty. We see here a picture of purposeful shaping in nature.
For your faith, this offers comfort. God’s work in you is often like that careful pruning. It removes what is unnecessary so that what remains can flourish. This process reflects tenderness and attention, inviting trust in the gardener’s hands even when the cut feels sharp.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ pruning1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/זָּמִ֖יר1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 2:12
The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The term zāmīr here marks the specific time when pruned branches signal that the season of renewal and singing has arrived.