תָּזַז
to lop off
Definition
The Hebrew verb תָּזַז (tâzaz) means to cut off, lop off, or prune, specifically in the context of removing branches or shoots from a vine or plant. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Isaiah 18:5, where it describes God's action of cutting off the shoots of a spreading vine, a metaphor for judgment against a nation. The imagery is agricultural, conveying a deliberate, decisive act of trimming for the purpose of judgment or control. There are no other attested meanings in the biblical corpus, as it appears only this once.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in the prophetic book of Isaiah. It appears in Isaiah 18:5 within a vivid agricultural metaphor. The context is an oracle concerning Cush (Ethiopia), where God is depicted as a gardener who, before the harvest, cuts off the tendrils and lops off the spreading branches of a vine, symbolizing His sovereign judgment against pride and rebellion. The usage is poetic and metaphorical, not literal.
Etymology
תָּזַז (tâzaz) is a primitive root in Hebrew, meaning its origin is not derived from another Hebrew word. It is a unique verb with a specific, concrete meaning related to cutting. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic, suggest a root meaning related to 'cutting' or 'lopping,' confirming its core sense. Its meaning did not develop significantly in biblical Hebrew due to its single occurrence.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries significant theological weight in its context. In Isaiah 18:5, it illustrates God's sovereign judgment and meticulous care in dealing with nations. The act of 'lopping off' is not random destruction but a precise, purposeful action by God to curb growth that opposes His will. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the intentionality and imagery of divine pruning, connecting to broader biblical themes of God as the gardener (cf. John 15:1-2) and the necessity of judgment against human arrogance.
In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, pruning vines was a common, understood practice essential for the health and productivity of a vineyard. It involved cutting away unwanted shoots so the plant's energy would go to producing good fruit. Isaiah's audience would immediately grasp this metaphor: God's judgment, like pruning, is a severe but sometimes necessary act for ultimate health and order. The modern reader might miss this agricultural nuance without explanation.
כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — a more general term for 'to cut' or 'cut off,' often used for covenants or cutting down people. גָּזַם (gâzam, H1504) — specifically 'to prune' vines or trees. קָצַץ (qâtsats, H7112) — 'to cut off' or 'cut in pieces,' often with a sense of severing.
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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