Lexical Summary tsanam: To pierce, to prick Original Word: צָנַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance withered A primitive root; to blast or shrink -- withered. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to dry up, harden NASB Translation withered (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צָנַם] verb dry up, harden (compare Aramaic צוּנָּמָא, , stone); — Qal Passive participle feminine plural צְנֻמוֺת Genesis 41:23 (E) of ears of grain. I. צנן (√ of following; meaning obscure). Topical Lexicon Root Imagery and Semantic Range The verb צָנַם evokes the idea of something pinched, shriveled, or drawn together until it is stunted. When applied to vegetation it describes an ear of grain whose life–sap has been shut off, leaving it dry, brittle, and incapable of nourishing anyone. Although the form appears only once in Scripture, the image it supplies is vivid and essential: a living thing that has clearly entered the final stages of decay. Canonical Context: Joseph’s Dream Narrative Genesis 41:23 sets the whole tone: “After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.” In Pharaoh’s dream, these ears immediately follow the seven fat, healthy heads, signaling a complete reversal of fortune. Joseph’s interpretation confirms the point—seven abundant years will be followed by seven years of catastrophic famine (Genesis 41:29-30). The single use of צָנַם therefore carries an outsized narrative weight: it encapsulates the devastation that will grip Egypt and its neighbors if God’s warning is not heeded. Agricultural and Climatic Background Egypt depends on predictable Nile flooding. A failure of the annual inundation means that grain never fills out, and an east wind—today called the khamsin—aggravates the problem by baking whatever fragile shoots remain. To an ancient audience the description of ears “withered, thin, and scorched” would conjure sights and smells of a failed harvest: dusty fields, cracked earth, and empty granaries. Pharaoh’s advisors could not decipher the dream, but they instinctively knew the picture was ominous. Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty over Plenty and Want. The root idea behind צָנַם underscores God’s prerogative to bless or withhold (Deuteronomy 28:1-24). The ears do not wither by chance; they wither because God wills to discipline the nations and to exalt His chosen servant Joseph (Genesis 41:32, 38-40). Intertextual Echoes While the exact root does not recur, parallel language amplifies its force: Each passage reiterates that only what is rooted in the Lord survives the searing winds of judgment or trial. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Famine Preparedness and Stewardship: Joseph’s response—storehouses, measured distribution, administrative integrity—remains an enduring model for churches wrestling with material need or social upheaval (Proverbs 6:6-8; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Summary Though appearing only once, צָנַם serves as a narrative hinge in Genesis 41, vividly portraying the withering of creation under divine judgment. Its lone occurrence reminds readers that a single word from God can alter the destiny of empires and that true security lies not in the abundance of present harvests but in humble obedience to His revealed will. Forms and Transliterations צְנֻמ֥וֹת צנמות ṣə·nu·mō·wṯ ṣənumōwṯ tzenuMotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:23 HEB: שֶׁ֣בַע שִׁבֳּלִ֔ים צְנֻמ֥וֹת דַּקּ֖וֹת שְׁדֻפ֣וֹת NAS: ears, withered, thin, KJV: ears, withered, thin, INT: seven ears withered thin scorched 1 Occurrence |
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