Lexical Summary tsitsah: Blossom, flower, bud Original Word: צִיצָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance flower Feminine of tsiyts; a flower -- flower. see HEBREW tsiyts NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee tsits. Brown-Driver-Briggs צִיצַת Isaiah 28:4, see צִיץ above Topical Lexicon Biblical SettingThe noun appears once in the canon, in Isaiah 28:4, where the prophet addresses the northern kingdom (Ephraim) and likens its fading splendor to “the fading flower of his glorious beauty” (Berean Standard Bible). The term is embedded in an oracle that denounces the drunken pride of Samaria and warns of imminent judgment at the hands of Assyria. Historical and Cultural Background Isaiah delivered this message in the late eighth century B.C., when the Northern Kingdom still enjoyed material prosperity but teetered on the brink of collapse. In that agrarian culture a blossom represented the earliest, most delicate sign of fruitfulness. A “fading flower” on “the head of the fertile valley” (Isaiah 28:4) conjured the picture of a withered bloom perched atop the hill of Samaria—once vibrant, now desiccated and soon swept away. To the original audience, the imagery underscored how swiftly military and economic glory can wilt when a nation forgets God. Symbolism of Transience and Judgment 1. Temporary Beauty A blossom dazzles briefly before withering. Isaiah’s metaphor exposes the ephemeral nature of Ephraim’s splendor. Similar floral images elsewhere—Psalm 103:15-16; Job 14:2; James 1:10—reinforce the truth that all human glory fades. 2. Ripeness for Consumption Isaiah 28:4 compares Samaria to “a ripe fig before summer; when someone sees it, he swallows it while it is still in his hand.” The blossom, already fading, speaks of fruit ready to be devoured. Judgment will not be delayed; Assyria will “swallow” Ephraim quickly and easily. 3. Contrast with the Everlasting Word Later in the same prophetic corpus Isaiah declares, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). The fading blossom of 28:4 therefore anticipates the larger Isaianic theme: human pride collapses, but divine revelation endures. Connections to Other Biblical Themes • Humility versus Pride – The image confronts self-sufficient grandeur. Proverbs 16:18 reminds that “pride goes before destruction,” a principle vividly illustrated by the fading blossom. Applications for Ministry Today • Preaching – The lone appearance of the term furnishes a vivid sermon illustration on the brevity of worldly success and the need for repentance before divine judgment arrives. Christological Implications Jesus embodies the antithesis of the fading blossom. Whereas Ephraim’s beauty withered, Christ’s glory never diminishes (Hebrews 1:3). Furthermore, the withered flower motif magnifies the contrast between Adam’s perishable race and the imperishable life secured through the resurrection (1 Peter 1:23-25, which quotes Isaiah 40). Devotional Reflection Meditating on the solitary “flower” of Isaiah 28:4 can cultivate a heart that prizes what is eternal over what is momentary. The believer prays, “Teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12), remembering that even the most glorious bloom must yield to the passage of time—but the one who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17). Summary Though the word occurs only once, its placement in Isaiah’s oracle packs theological weight: the fleeting brilliance of a blossom exposes the vanity of pride, heralds swift judgment, and invites all generations to seek the enduring beauty found in the Lord alone. Forms and Transliterations צִיצַ֤ת ציצת ṣî·ṣaṯ ṣîṣaṯ tziTzatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 28:4 HEB: וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה צִיצַ֤ת נֹבֵל֙ צְבִ֣י KJV: shall be a fading flower, [and] as the hasty fruit INT: become flower and the fading glorious |
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