צַמָּה (tsam.mah)

The Hebrew noun tsammah refers specifically to a woman’s veil. In the biblical texts where it appears, this garment serves as a marker of modesty and social propriety for married women or those under protection. Its presence signals a woman’s status within the community, distinguishing her from unmarried girls who might go uncovered.

This word occurs in four verses, primarily in poetic sections like Song of Solomon and prophetic passages in Isaiah. In Song of Solomon 4:1, the beloved describes his lover as one whose hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead, with her teeth like a newly shorn flock, and explicitly notes that her lips are like a thread of scarlet and her neck is like the tower of David, built for an armory, where a thousand shields hang on it, all shields of mighty men. Wait, that's not right. Let me re-check the verse. Song 4:1 mentions "thy hair is as a flock of goats... thy teeth are as a flock of sheep." It does not mention tsammah there. Let's look at Isaiah 3:23. Isaiah 3:22 lists items like "mantles, and gowns, and belts, and hand-mirrors, and linen garments, and head-tires, and veils." The Hebrew word for veils here is tsammah. So it is used in a list of luxurious female attire that will be removed as judgment.

In Isaiah 3:22, tsammah appears alongside other expensive accessories like mirrors and fine linen, illustrating the elaborate dress of Jerusalem’s daughters before their impending humiliation. The removal of these veils in the prophecy signifies the stripping away of pride and social standing. Thus, the word captures not just a piece of fabric, but a symbol of identity and honor that God can remove.