שׂוּג (sug)
sug
to grow
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sug means to enclose or surround, often with a sense of protection or definition. In its basic form, it describes creating a boundary around something, much like a fence marks the edge of a field. This word appears only once in the Song of Solomon (7:3), where it poetically depicts the beloved’s body as a heap of wheat surrounded by lilies, suggesting both beauty and distinctiveness.
In Isaiah 17:11, the word intensifies to sug in the Pilpel stem, meaning to fence carefully or thoroughly. Here it describes people who plant gardens and tend them with great care, yet these efforts are futile because they rely on human effort rather than divine favor. The careful fencing highlights their diligence but also their misplaced trust.
This verb carries a vivid image of deliberate action—setting boundaries not just physically but symbolically. It reminds readers that while setting limits can provide structure and safety, those limits must align with deeper spiritual truths to bear lasting fruit.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sug paints a picture of careful enclosure. It describes the act of building a fence or hedge around something valuable, creating a clear boundary that defines and protects what lies within. In the ancient world, this was not merely about exclusion but about establishing safety and order for what was precious.
When we look at Isaiah 17:11, we see people who worked tirelessly to "hedge in" their gardens, ensuring every seed had its place. Their effort was real, yet the text reveals a deeper truth: human diligence alone cannot guarantee lasting fruit if it is disconnected from divine favor. The boundary itself is neutral; its value depends on what sustains what it encloses.
This invites us to examine the boundaries we build in our own lives. Are they meant to protect something God has placed in our care, or do they serve as walls of self-reliance? True security comes not from the strength of the fence, but from the One who watches over what is inside it. May you find peace in trusting that your life is held securely by grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you cause to grow1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּשַׂגְשֵׂ֔גִי1×
Key Verses
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Isaiah 17:11
In the day of your planting, you hedge it in. In the morning, you make your seed blossom, but the harvest flees away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.
This verse uses the intensive form of sug to describe people who meticulously hedge their gardens, highlighting how human effort can be futile without God's blessing.