סַרְפָּד
a nettle (as stinging like a burn)
Definition
The Hebrew word סַרְפָּד refers to a stinging or prickly plant, specifically a nettle or brier. It describes a type of thorny, undesirable vegetation that grows in desolate or uncultivated places. In its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 55:13, it is contrasted with the cypress tree, symbolizing the transformation of barren, cursed land into a place of beauty and blessing. The word emphasizes the plant's painful, irritating quality, akin to a burn.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 55:13. It appears in a prophetic context where God promises a future restoration. The סַרְפָּד (nettle/brier) is what will be replaced by the myrtle tree, serving as a metaphor for the removal of hardship and curse, and the establishment of God's everlasting covenant sign.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb סָרַף (sāraph, H5635), meaning 'to burn' or 'to consume.' This connection highlights the stinging, burning sensation caused by contact with the plant. The noun form thus carries the sense of 'a burner' or 'stinger,' directly linking its physical characteristic to its name.
Semantic Range
In Isaiah 55:13, the סַרְפָּד is a powerful symbol within a covenant promise. Its replacement by a noble tree (the myrtle) signifies God's power to radically transform spiritual desolation into flourishing life as a sign of His faithful, redemptive work. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by clarifying the stark contrast between the cursed state without God and the blessed state under His covenant.
In ancient Near Eastern agriculture, thorny plants like nettles and briers were symbols of land that was neglected, cursed, or lay waste (cf. Proverbs 24:31). They represented hardship, pain, and infertility, making their removal a sign of restoration and divine blessing. This cultural understanding makes the metaphor in Isaiah 55:13 immediately impactful to its original audience.
חוֹחַ (chôach, H2336) — a general term for thorn or bramble; often used for thickets or thorn bushes. סִלּוֹן (çillôwn, H5544) — a prickle or thorn; can refer to a point or hook. דַּרְדַּר (dardar, H1863) — thistle; another prickly plant associated with cursed ground (Genesis 3:18).
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.
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