Lexical Summary zamar: To sing, to praise, to make music Original Word: זָמַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance prune A primitive root (compare zamar, camar, tsemer); to trim (a vine) -- prune. see HEBREW zamar see HEBREW camar see HEBREW tsemer NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to trim, prune NASB Translation prune (2), pruned (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [זָמַר] verb trim, prune (Late Hebrew id.; relation to √ I. obscure) — Qal Imperfect2masculine singular תִּזְמֹר Leviticus 25:3,4 of pruning a vineyard (כֶּרֶם; H). Niph`al Imperfect יִזָּמֵר Isaiah 5:6 be pruned, subject כֶּרֶם ""(יֵעָדֵרׅ. Topical Lexicon Agricultural background זָמַר describes the careful cutting back of vines and fruit-bearing trees in ancient Near Eastern viticulture. The goal was to remove excess growth, increase sunlight and air circulation, and concentrate the sap toward clusters that would mature into sweeter, more plentiful fruit. Pruning took place annually after harvest and before the spring surge of growth, requiring discernment, skill, and patience—qualities that later became spiritual metaphors. Canonical distribution Leviticus 25:3, Leviticus 25:4, and Isaiah 5:6 contain the only three occurrences of the verb. In each setting zāmar is paired with vineyard imagery and is associated either with covenant blessing (obedience) or judgment (disobedience). Sabbatical principle and covenant rest Leviticus 25 anchors zāmar in Israel’s agricultural calendar. For six years the Israelites could “prune your vineyard and gather its crops” (Leviticus 25:3). In the seventh year, however, “you are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard” (Leviticus 25:4). Prophetic warning to an unfruitful vineyard In Isaiah 5 the LORD sings over His vineyard—Judah. When the people resist covenant faithfulness, He pronounces judgment: “I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated” (Isaiah 5:6). Removal of pruning symbolizes abandonment: Biblical theology of pruning Though limited in frequency, zāmar contributes to a broader scriptural motif: the Lord disciplines His people to produce righteousness. The concept surfaces in: Pastoral and ministry implications 1. Trustful rest: Just as Israel rested its land, believers are called to rhythms of rest that demonstrate faith in God’s sufficiency. Intertextual connections Leviticus 26:34–35 links failure to honor the land’s sabbaths with exile, paralleling Isaiah 5’s threat. 2 Chronicles 36:21 records the land finally enjoying its sabbath rests during captivity, showing the reliability of God’s word. The New Testament’s emphasis on abiding in Christ echoes the sabbatical call to cease striving and rely on divine cultivation. Summary Though appearing only three times, זָמַר powerfully unites agricultural practice, covenant theology, and spiritual formation. Pruning, whether withheld or applied, exposes the heart’s response to the Vinedresser’s sovereign care, reminding the people of God in every age that fruitful abundance flows from obedient rest and receptive surrender to His skilled, pruning hand. Forms and Transliterations יִזָּמֵר֙ יזמר תִּזְמֹ֣ר תִזְמֹֽר׃ תזמר תזמר׃ tiz·mōr ṯiz·mōr tizMor tizmōr ṯizmōr yiz·zā·mêr yizzaMer yizzāmêrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 25:3 HEB: וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים תִּזְמֹ֣ר כַּרְמֶ֑ךָ וְאָסַפְתָּ֖ NAS: years you shall prune your vineyard KJV: years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, INT: and six years shall prune your vineyard and gather Leviticus 25:4 Isaiah 5:6 3 Occurrences |
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