זָמַר (za.mar)
za.mar
to prune
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb zamar means to trim or prune, specifically in the context of tending a vineyard. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, with its most notable usage found in Isaiah 5:6. In this passage, the prophet describes the failure of the vineyard owner’s care, noting that instead of expecting a harvest of good grapes, the result was wild ones because the walls were broken down and the vines left unpruned.
Its root sense involves the careful removal of excess growth to encourage fruitfulness. The word functions in both the active voice, where someone performs the pruning, and the passive Niphal form, describing the state of being pruned. This agricultural imagery serves as a powerful metaphor for divine discipline or neglect, illustrating how spiritual vitality depends on attentive maintenance.
Translators typically render zamar as "prune" or "trim," preserving the concrete agricultural image rather than abstracting it into general care. The rarity of the word in Scripture highlights its specific function: it is not about general gardening but about the precise, necessary work required to prevent a vine from becoming wild and unfruitful.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zamar describes the careful work of pruning a vine. It is not about general gardening, but the specific task of cutting away excess growth so the plant can bear good fruit. In ancient Israel, this was essential agricultural practice. Without it, vines became wild and unproductive. The Bible uses this image to show how God tends to His people.
Isaiah 5:6 shows what happens when this care is neglected. The vineyard becomes a wasteland of thorns because no one prunes it. This reminds us that spiritual fruitfulness requires attentive maintenance. It is not about harsh punishment, but about removing what hinders growth so we can thrive.
When life feels overgrown or stagnant, remember that God’s discipline is like the pruning knife. It cuts away what is unnecessary to help you produce more of His good work in your life. This process may feel difficult, but it leads to greater vitality and purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will prune2×
- it will be pruned1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּזְמֹ֣ר1×
- תִזְמֹֽר\׃1×
- יִזָּמֵר֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 5:6
I will lay it a wasteland. It won’t be pruned or hoed, but it will grow briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.”
This verse shows the consequence of neglecting pruning, where the vineyard becomes a wasteland of thorns because it was left unattended.
-
Leviticus 25:3
You shall sow your field six years, and you shall prune your vineyard six years, and gather in its fruits;
Here, pruning is part of the regular work cycle, showing that fruitfulness requires consistent and disciplined effort over time.
-
Leviticus 25:4
but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to Yahweh. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.
The command to stop pruning in the Sabbath year highlights that even necessary work must rest, trusting God for the harvest.