5586. saaph

Lexicon

saaph: To lop off, cut off, cut down

Original Word: סָעַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ca`aph
Pronunciation: sah-af'
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-af')
Definition: To lop off, cut off, cut down
Meaning: to disbranch

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

top

A primitive root; properly, to divide up; but used only as denominative from ca'iyph, to disbranch (a tree) -- top.

see HEBREW ca'iyph

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
denominative verb from seappah
Definition
to lop off (boughs)
NASB Translation
lop off (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [סֵעֵף] verb Pi`el denominative lop off boughs; — Participle סְסָעֵף מֻּארָה Isaiah 10:33 ׳י֗֗֗ shall lop off (the) crown of branches.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • While there is no direct Greek equivalent for סָעַף (sa'aph) in the Strong's Concordance, related concepts of pruning or cutting off can be found in Greek terms such as κλαδεύω (kladeuō • Strong's Greek 2508), which means to prune or cleanse by cutting off unproductive branches, and ἀποκόπτω (apokoptō • Strong's Greek 609), meaning to cut off or amputate. These Greek terms are used in the New Testament to convey similar themes of spiritual pruning and judgment.

Usage: The term is used in the context of cutting off or removing branches, often metaphorically to describe division or separation.

Context: • The Hebrew verb סָעַף (sa'aph) is a primitive root that primarily conveys the action of disbranching or lopping off branches. This term is used metaphorically in the Hebrew Bible to describe the act of division or separation, often in a spiritual or moral sense. The imagery of disbranching suggests a removal or cutting away of what is unproductive or undesirable, akin to pruning in horticulture.
• In the context of the Hebrew Scriptures, the act of disbranching can symbolize God's judgment or the purification process, where unfruitful or rebellious elements are removed to promote growth and health in the remaining branches. This metaphor is consistent with the broader biblical theme of God as a gardener or vine-dresser, who tends to His people with care and precision.
• The concept of disbranching is not frequently mentioned in the Bible, but when it appears, it underscores the seriousness of divine judgment and the necessity of spiritual renewal and repentance. The imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of spiritual waywardness and the importance of remaining connected to the source of life and nourishment.

Forms and Transliterations

מְסָעֵ֥ף מסעף mə·sā·‘êp̄ məsā‘êp̄ mesaEf

Englishman's Concordance

Isaiah 10:33
HEB: יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת מְסָעֵ֥ף פֻּארָ֖ה בְּמַעֲרָצָ֑ה
NAS: of hosts, will lop off the boughs
KJV: of hosts, shall lop the bough
INT: the GOD of hosts will lop the bough A terrible

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 5586
1 Occurrence

mə·sā·‘êp̄ — 1 Occ.