סְבֹךְ (so.vekh)
so.vekh
thicket
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun sboch refers to a dense thicket or tangled mass of vegetation. It describes a place where branches and undergrowth are so thick that movement is difficult, creating a natural barrier or hiding spot. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears only once, in Jeremiah 4:6.
In that single occurrence, the prophet uses sboch to describe the enemy coming like a cloud from the north. The imagery suggests an overwhelming force that obscures vision and blocks the way forward, much like a dense forest prevents clear passage. This usage highlights the word’s sense of obstruction and concealment rather than simply a collection of trees.
Because it occurs only in this context, sboch does not have a broad range of meanings across Scripture. Its impact comes from its vividness in Jeremiah’s warning: the threat is not just visible but entangled and hard to navigate, emphasizing the seriousness of the coming judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sboch paints a picture of a dense thicket, where tangled branches and thick undergrowth make movement nearly impossible. In Jeremiah 4:7, this imagery is used to describe a lion rising from its hiding place. The enemy does not just appear; they emerge from a place of concealment, bringing destruction with them. This vivid description helps us understand the sudden and overwhelming nature of the threat facing Judah.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God sees what is hidden. Just as the thicket concealed the lion, our own struggles or fears may feel like tangled undergrowth that blocks our path forward. Yet, the same God who warned Jeremiah through such powerful imagery is also the one who guides us through our darkest moments. We do not face these entanglements alone.
When life feels confusing or blocked, remember that clarity often comes from trusting in God’s perspective rather than our own limited view. The thicket may obscure the way, but it does not hide God’s presence. He is faithful to lead us out of confusion and into peace, even when the path ahead seems unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ thicket/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִֽ/סֻּבְּכ֔/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 4:7
A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations. He is on his way. He has gone out from his place, to make your land desolate, that your cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
The word sboch describes the lion's hiding place, emphasizing how the enemy emerges from concealment to bring sudden destruction.