סָעִיף
a fissure (of rocks); also a bough (as subdivided)
Definition
The Hebrew word סָעִיף (çâʻîyph) refers primarily to a natural division or cleft, most often describing a rocky fissure or crevice in a cliff (Judges 15:8, 11). In a botanical sense, it can also mean a subdivided branch or bough of a tree, particularly the outermost, slender branches (Isaiah 17:6, 27:10). This dual imagery—rocky clefts and tree branches—highlights the concept of something that splits off or extends from a main body. In Isaiah 2:21 and 57:5, the word is used metaphorically, with the 'clefts of the rocks' representing places of hiding and the 'branches' (or 'leafy shrines') associated with idolatrous practices.
Biblical Usage
סָעִיף is used six times in the Old Testament, appearing in the historical book of Judges and the prophetic book of Isaiah. In Judges 15, it describes the physical 'cleft' or 'rock' where Samson took refuge. In Isaiah, its usage is more varied: it denotes the 'tops of the leafy trees' or branches in Isaiah 17:6 and 27:10, the 'clefts of the rocks' as a hiding place from God's majesty in Isaiah 2:21, and the idolatrous 'leafy trees' or 'shrines' in Isaiah 57:5. The word connects physical geography with spiritual metaphor.
Etymology
סָעִיף is a noun derived from the root verb סָעַף (H5586), which means 'to split,' 'to divide,' or 'to cleave.' This root meaning directly informs the noun's dual senses: a fissure (a split in rock) and a branch (a division from a tree trunk). The concept is one of subdivision or offshoot.
Semantic Range
This word carries theological weight through its metaphorical use in Isaiah. The 'clefts of the rocks' (Isaiah 2:21) symbolize human attempts to hide from the terror of the Lord's judgment, contrasting the futility of human refuge with the supremacy of God. In Isaiah 57:5, the association with 'leafy trees' or 'shrines' connects the word to idolatry and false worship. Understanding סָעִיף enriches the imagery of God's judgment, human frailty, and the call to forsake false security.
In the rugged terrain of ancient Israel, rocky clefts were practical, known refuges and hiding places (as for Samson). The imagery of taking shelter in a rock cleft would be immediately familiar. Similarly, the 'leafy' or 'luxuriant' branches (Isaiah 57:5) likely refer to specific trees or groves used in Canaanite high-place worship, making the prophet's condemnation culturally pointed.
עָנָף (ʻānāph, H6057) — a general term for branch or bough, less specific about subdivision. פֶּרֶק (pereq, H6530) — a branch, specifically one broken off. סֶלַע (selaʻ, H5553) — a crag or cliff rock, the mass from which a סָעִיף (cleft) is formed.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →