סַלְסִלָּה (sal.sil.lah)
sal.sil.lah
branch
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun salsillah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Jeremiah 6:9. Its primary meaning is "basket," but scholars note a probable secondary sense related to plant life: a shoot, branch, or tendril. This dual possibility reflects the visual similarity between woven containers and the twisting growth of vines.
In its single occurrence, the word describes how God’s people will be gathered like fruit into baskets for judgment. The imagery likely draws on agricultural practices where harvesters collect produce in woven vessels. The connection to branches or tendrils suggests a metaphorical link between the organic growth of plants and their eventual collection, emphasizing both natural order and divine sovereignty.
Translators generally render it as "basket" based on contextual usage, though some acknowledge the botanical nuance. This rare word highlights how Hebrew vocabulary often bridges concrete objects with living processes, allowing a single term to carry layered meaning depending on context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word salsillah appears only once in Scripture, found in Jeremiah 6:9. While it literally means basket, its rare usage evokes the image of a vine’s branch or tendril. This connection reminds us that God sees the natural growth and structure of our lives with perfect clarity.
In this verse, the imagery shifts from organic growth to harvest. Just as grapes are gathered into baskets, God’s people are collected for judgment. This is not a random event but a deliberate act of divine sovereignty. The word bridges the gap between living plant life and the vessels that hold its fruit.
For your faith, this offers a sobering yet comforting perspective. You are known to God as intimately as a grower knows their vineyard. Whether in seasons of growth or harvest, His purposes are precise. We can trust that He oversees every detail of our lives with care and justice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- branches1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סַלְסִלּֽוֹת\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 6:9
Yahweh of Armies says, “They will thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine. Turn again your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.”
The word describes the baskets into which the remnant is gathered, linking the physical container to the metaphorical harvest of God's people.