שׂוּג
to hedge in
Definition
The Hebrew verb שׂוּג (sûwg) primarily means 'to hedge in' or 'to fence about,' conveying the idea of surrounding something with a protective or restrictive barrier. In its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 17:11, it describes the act of making plants grow or causing them to flourish, likely through the agricultural practice of fencing or hedging a vineyard or garden for protection and cultivation. This usage extends the core meaning from a physical barrier to the resulting effect of fostering growth and security. The word carries a sense of both enclosure and the nurturing that such enclosure enables.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 17:11. In this prophetic context, it is used agriculturally within a metaphor of judgment: 'In the day you plant, you make it grow (תְּשַׂגְשֶׂגֶנָּה), and in the morning your seed blossoms, but the harvest will be a heap in the day of grief and desperate pain.' The usage highlights human effort in cultivation, which is ultimately futile against God's coming judgment. The Hiphil verb form emphasizes the causative action of making plants grow, linking the protective 'hedging' action to agricultural success.
Etymology
שׂוּג is a primitive root verb in Hebrew. It is related to the concept of a fence or hedge, as seen in the noun מָשׂוֹג (masog, H4534) meaning 'fence' or 'hedge.' Cognates in other Semitic languages, such as Akkadian, support meanings related to enclosing or surrounding. The development from the concrete action of 'hedging in' to the causative sense of 'making to grow' in Isaiah 17:11 reflects how physical protection in an agricultural setting was understood to directly enable growth and fruitfulness.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, שׂוּג in Isaiah 17:11 contributes to the prophet's theme of human vanity and divine sovereignty. It illustrates the futility of human labor and security apart from God's blessing. The act of 'making to grow' represents human effort and planning, which, while productive in the short term, is ultimately helpless against God's day of judgment. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the contrast between temporary agricultural success and permanent spiritual desolation, reminding readers that true security and growth come only from God.
In ancient Israelite agriculture, hedging or fencing a vineyard or field was a common and vital practice to protect crops from animals, thieves, and weather. This cultural context makes the metaphorical use in Isaiah 17:11 powerful: the hearers would immediately understand the effort and care implied in 'making plants grow' through such protective enclosure. The modern reader might miss this connection between physical fencing and cultivated growth, but the original audience saw them as intrinsically linked—security enabled productivity.
גָּדַר (gadar, H1443) — to wall up or build a wall, more focused on stone construction than a hedge. סוּךְ (suk, H5526) — to hedge or fence about, often used for protection; closely related but with broader metaphorical use (e.g., Job 1:10). שָׂכַךְ (sakak, H5526) — to cover or screen, offering protection but not necessarily an enclosure.
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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