Bible Word Study
צַמּוּק
tsammûwq · a cake of dried grapes
צַמּוּק
a cake of dried grapes
Definition
צַמּוּק refers to a cake or cluster of dried grapes, essentially a raisin cake. This preserved fruit was a portable, high-energy food source in the ancient Near East. In the biblical texts, it appears as a valuable provision for travelers (1 Samuel 25:18) and as sustenance for the exhausted (1 Samuel 30:12). It also features as a celebratory food brought to David's coronation (1 Chronicles 12:40), highlighting its role beyond mere sustenance.
Biblical Usage
This noun is used four times, exclusively in historical narratives. It consistently denotes a practical, nutritious food item. In 1 Samuel 25:18 and 30:12, it is part of emergency provisions. In 2 Samuel 16:1 and 1 Chronicles 12:40, it is presented as a gift or part of a large feast, indicating it was considered a desirable delicacy suitable for honoring a leader.
Etymology
Derived from the root צָמַק (tsamaq, H6784), meaning 'to dry up' or 'to shrivel.' This root directly describes the process of making raisins by drying grapes. The noun form thus literally means 'a dried thing,' specifically referring to the shriveled grape product.
Semantic Range
While a common food item, the raisin cake (צַמּוּק) appears in contexts of provision, hospitality, and celebration. Its use to revive the famished Egyptian slave (1 Samuel 30:12) can be seen as a small act of mercy that leads to a major strategic victory for David. Its presence at David's coronation feast (1 Chronicles 12:40) symbolizes the joy and abundance of God's kingdom being established. Understanding it as a valued commodity enriches the reading of these narratives. Raisin cakes were a significant, non-perishable food in an agrarian society without modern preservation. They provided quick energy and were easy to transport, making them ideal for journeys, military campaigns, and as gifts. They were not a mundane snack but a concentrated, sweet luxury and a vital part of food supplies, reflecting both practical necessity and celebratory abundance. עֲנָבִים (anavim, H6025) — fresh grapes, the fruit before drying. אֲשִׁישָׁה (ashishah, H809) — a cake of raisins or a pressed cake of figs, often used in idolatrous feasts (Hosea 3:1), with a possible cultic association not present in צַמּוּק.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]