סוּחָה
something swept away, i.e. filth
Definition
The Hebrew word סוּחָה (çûwchâh) refers to something that has been swept away or cast off, specifically denoting filth, refuse, or offal. It describes material that is considered worthless and discarded, often with a sense of being violently removed. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 5:25, it is used metaphorically to describe the corpses of God's people being treated as refuse in the streets following divine judgment. The term carries a strong connotation of utter degradation and uncleanness.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 5:25. It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment, where the prophet Isaiah declares that the corpses of the people will be like 'refuse' (סוּחָה) in the streets as a consequence of their rebellion against God. The usage is entirely metaphorical and dramatic, emphasizing the severity of God's wrath and the complete humiliation of the punished.
Etymology
The noun סוּחָה (çûwchâh) is derived from the root סוח (sûach), which means 'to sweep away' or 'to clear out.' It is related to the verb סוּחַ (çûwach, H5477), which carries the sense of sweeping or scouring. The word's etymology directly informs its meaning, pointing to something that is removed and discarded as worthless waste.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays the consequences of sin and covenant rebellion. In Isaiah 5:25, it illustrates how God's holy judgment can reduce the prideful and rebellious to a state of utter defilement and worthlessness, like garbage in the street. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this prophetic text by highlighting the shocking depth of degradation that results from turning away from God, serving as a powerful warning about the seriousness of divine justice.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, to be cast out as refuse or left unburied was a profound dishonor and a sign of divine curse. It represented the ultimate loss of dignity and social standing. The metaphor in Isaiah would have been viscerally understood by its original audience as depicting not just death, but a shameful and polluted end, intensifying the warning of the prophecy.
אַשְׁפָּה (ʼashpâh, H0830) — a heap of refuse or dung, often a specific location for dumping. פֶּלֶךְ (pelek, H6418) — offal or the entrails of a sacrifice, more specific to ritual context. גֵּל (gêl, H1530) — a heap or mound, can refer to a pile of ruins or dung.
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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