שָׂרִיג
a tendril (as entwining)
Definition
The Hebrew word שָׂרִיג (sârîyg) refers specifically to a tender, young shoot or tendril of a vine. It describes the new, flexible branches that grow out from a vine and are capable of entwining around supports. In its three biblical occurrences, it consistently carries this botanical sense. In Genesis 40:10 and 40:12, it describes the grape-bearing branches in Pharaoh's cupbearer's dream. In Joel 1:7, it is used metaphorically, where an invading nation has stripped the vine and ruined its שָׂרִיגים (tendrils), symbolizing utter devastation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in agricultural or metaphorical contexts related to vines. It appears in the narrative of Joseph interpreting dreams (Genesis 40) and in the prophetic poetry of Joel. In Genesis, the term is literal, describing the fruit-producing parts of a vine in a dream-vision. In Joel 1:7, the usage is metaphorical; the destruction of a vine's 'tendrils' by a nation represents the complete and deliberate ruin of Judah, stripping it of both its present fruit and its future potential for growth.
Etymology
שָׂרִיג derives from the root שָׂרַג (śārag, H8276), meaning 'to intertwine' or 'to be entangled.' This root connection vividly illustrates the nature of a tendril, which grows by winding itself around other objects for support. The noun form captures the idea of something that is itself entwined or that causes entwining, perfectly describing the growth habit of a vine's young shoots.
Semantic Range
While primarily a botanical term, שָׂרִיג gains theological weight in its metaphorical use in Joel 1:7. Here, the destruction of the tendrils symbolizes the severing of God's people (often depicted as a vine) from their source of life and future hope. It underscores the totality of divine judgment—not just the loss of current blessing, but the crushing of future potential. Understanding this enriches the imagery of Israel as God's vineyard (e.g., Isaiah 5; John 15) and the profound consequences of covenant unfaithfulness.
In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, the vine was a central symbol of livelihood, blessing, and settlement. A healthy vine with many שָׂרִיגים (tendrils) represented prosperity, fruitfulness, and a secure future. Conversely, damaged or stripped tendrils signaled catastrophe, implying the loss of both the present harvest and the vine's capacity to produce in coming years. This makes Joel's metaphor immediately and powerfully understood by his original audience.
זְמוֹרָה (zemôrâ, H2156) — a more general term for a vine branch or shoot, not specifying its tender, entwining nature. כְּפוֹר (kᵉphôr, H3713) — a young twig or shoot, but not specifically of a vine. סְעַפָּה (sᵉʿappâ, H5589) — a bough or branch, typically of a tree rather than a vine.
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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