כַּנָּה
a plant (as set)
Definition
The Hebrew noun כַּנָּה (kannâh) refers to a cultivated plant, specifically a vine that has been planted or set in the ground. It derives from a root meaning 'to set up' or 'to establish,' emphasizing the intentional act of planting. In its sole biblical occurrence in Psalm 80:15, it is poetically parallel to 'vine' (גֶּפֶן, gephen) and refers to the nation of Israel as a vine God brought out of Egypt and planted. The term thus carries the sense of a specially established, cultivated planting, distinct from a wild growth.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 80:15. It appears in a poetic, metaphorical context within a communal lament psalm (Psalm 80). The psalmist uses it to address God, referring to Israel as 'the vine' and 'the son' whom God has 'planted' (kannâh). The usage is entirely figurative, drawing on the agricultural imagery of a vineyard to describe God's establishment and care for His people.
Etymology
The noun כַּנָּה (kannâh) is derived from the root כָּנַן (kānan, H3661), which means 'to set up, establish, or fix firmly.' This root is also related to words for a base, pedestal, or stem. The development from the verbal idea of 'setting up' to the noun for a 'planted thing' or 'vine' is straightforward, highlighting a plant that has been intentionally positioned and rooted.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, כַּנָּה is theologically significant as it contributes to the powerful vineyard metaphor for Israel (see also Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21). In Psalm 80, it underscores God's sovereign, initiating act in choosing and establishing Israel as His own cultivated planting. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of the psalm by emphasizing that Israel's existence as a nation was not accidental but a deliberate act of divine establishment, for which the psalmist pleads for continued care and restoration.
In ancient Israelite culture, viticulture (vineyard cultivation) was a central agricultural practice and a common symbol for a settled, prosperous life. A 'planted' vine (kannâh) represented an investment of labor and hope for future fruit, in contrast to a wild vine. This cultural understanding makes the metaphor in Psalm 80:15 poignant: Israel was not a wild growth but a precious planting of God, expected to bear fruit for Him.
גֶּפֶן (gephen, H1612) — The common word for 'vine' or 'vine plant'; כַּנָּה is a more specific term for a planted or established vine. כֶּרֶם (kerem, H3754) — Refers to the 'vineyard' as a whole cultivated field, whereas כַּנָּה refers to the individual planted vine within it.
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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