5552. salsillah
Lexical Summary
salsillah: Wreath, garland

Original Word: סַלְסִלָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: calcillah
Pronunciation: sal-sil-lah
Phonetic Spelling: (sal-sil-law')
KJV: basket
NASB: branches
Word Origin: [from H5541 (סָלָה - Roast)]

1. a twig (as pendulous)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
basket

From calah; a twig (as pendulous) -- basket.

see HEBREW calah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as sal
Definition
probably a branch
NASB Translation
branches (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[סַלְסִלָּה] noun [feminine] basket according to ᵐ5 ᵑ9 AV RV; but probably shoot, branch Ew Hi Gf Gie and others; only plural absolute כְּבוֺצֵר (read probably יָד) הָשֵׁד יָָֽדְךָ עַלסַֿלְסִלּוֺת Jeremiah 6:9.

סלע (√ of following; compare Arabic cleave, split, cleft, fissure, Lane1406, hence סֶלַע split, jagged cliff, crag, often isolated (split off) rock (compare WetzstDe Isaiah 3, 696-707; and especially ZAW iii((1883), 273); then of smaller fragments, Late Hebrew סֶלַע rock, stone, also scale (of serpent), weight (in trade); Aramaic סִלְעָא specifically weight for coin; Nabataean סלי, a coin Lzb329 Cook85).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

Jeremiah 6:9 is the sole appearance of סַלְסִלָּה. The LORD of Hosts declares that His agents will “thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine; pass your hand over the branches again, like a grape-gatherer” (Berean Standard Bible). The word pictures either the pliant, intertwining vine-branches that hold the fruit or the small wicker baskets into which the gleaner places the clusters. Whether branch-work or basket, the term evokes the last careful sweep of the vineyard to ensure nothing is left behind.

Historical Setting

• Jeremiah prophesies in the final decades before Babylon’s conquest (late seventh–early sixth century B.C.).
• The nation’s leaders believe the presence of the temple guarantees security (Jeremiah 7:4), yet idolatry and injustice abound.
• The imagery of a grape-harvest remnant being plucked away underscores the completeness of the coming judgment: not one berry of rebellious Israel will escape Babylonian hands.

Symbolism in the Context of Jeremiah

1. Thoroughness of Divine Judgment

– As a vintner returns to strip every lingering cluster, so the Babylonian armies will remove every survivor except the portion God Himself reserves (Jeremiah 24:1–10).
2. The Vulnerability of the Remnant

– A vine’s tender offshoots or a small basket of grapes are easily crushed, illustrating how powerless Judah is without covenant faithfulness.
3. Hope Embedded in the Image

– Gleaning presupposes fruit left after the main harvest. Even in judgment the Lord preserves a remnant (Jeremiah 23:3; Isaiah 10:20–22).

Vineyard Motifs across Scripture

• Israel as the LORD’s cultivated vine (Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:8–16).
• The Messiah as the true Vine, with fruitful branches abiding in Him (John 15:1–8).
• Final harvest imagery portraying judgment and redemption (Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:15-20).

סַלְסִלָּה contributes to this larger canonical theme by highlighting meticulous inspection: every branch, basket, or tendril is subject to the vinedresser’s hand.

Theological Insights

1. God’s Sovereign Thoroughness

– Nothing escapes His notice (Psalm 139:1–12). The same diligence displayed in Jeremiah 6:9 affirms that divine justice is exact and comprehensive.
2. The Principle of the Remnant

– Even the minimal gleanings belong to the Lord. Scripture consistently shows that judgment and mercy operate together (Romans 11:5).
3. Call to Fruitfulness

– Believers are urged to bear fruit worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8). The imagery warns against complacency and prompts self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Practical and Ministry Applications

• Pastoral Warning: Like Jeremiah, ministers must not soften the reality of judgment; God will sift His people until genuine faith remains.
• Discipleship: Encourage believers to remain attached to the true Vine, understanding that pruning, though painful, leads to greater fruitfulness (John 15:2).
• Missional Perspective: Just as gleanings were traditionally left for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10), the church is to leave margins of time, resources, and compassion for the spiritually needy, demonstrating God’s inclusive grace.

Messianic and Eschatological Outlook

• The Babylonian gleaning foreshadows the final harvest when Christ returns.
• Revelation’s reaping scenes parallel Jeremiah’s language, assuring that ultimate justice will be as meticulous as the ancient grape-gatherer’s sweep.
• For the redeemed, the picture transforms from fearful sifting to joyful inclusion in the “new wine” of the kingdom (Matthew 26:29).

Summary

סַלְסִלָּה, though appearing only once, vividly portrays the LORD’s painstaking inspection of His vineyard. It warns of thorough judgment, affirms the preservation of a remnant, and points forward to the consummate harvest in Christ. Ministers and believers alike are called to heed the lesson: remain fruitful, remain faithful, and trust the vinedresser’s wise and sovereign hand.

Forms and Transliterations
סַלְסִלּֽוֹת׃ סלסלות׃ sal·sil·lō·wṯ salsilLot salsillōwṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Jeremiah 6:9
HEB: כְּבוֹצֵ֖ר עַל־ סַלְסִלּֽוֹת׃
NAS: Over the branches.
KJV: as a grapegatherer into the baskets.
INT: gatherer Over the branches

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 5552
1 Occurrence


sal·sil·lō·wṯ — 1 Occ.

5551
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