Hebrew word · H2168

זָמַר

tizmor

to prune

A farming verb meaning "to prune, trim" vines (Leviticus 25:3–4; Isaiah 5:6). A separate root with the same spelling means "to sing, make music" (the source of mizmor, "psalm").

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to trim, prune

1a) (Qal) to trim, prune

1b) (Niphal) to be pruned

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 5:6

Range of meaning

A farming verb meaning "to prune, trim" vines (Leviticus 25:3–4; Isaiah 5:6). A separate root with the same spelling means "to sing, make music" (the source of mizmor, "psalm").

Against the English

"Pruned" is accurate in every major version. English cannot carry the possible sound link with "singing".

Used elsewhere in the period

Leviticus 25:3–4 uses this verb for the vineyard you prune for six years and must not prune in the seventh, the sabbath year. In Song of Songs 2:12 the related noun zamir can be read as "pruning" or "singing", and translators split over it.

Where it appears

Leviticus · 2

  1. Leviticus 25:3 תִּזְמֹ֣ר you will prune

    For six years you may sow your field and prune your vineyard and gather its crops.

  2. Leviticus 25:4 תִזְמֹֽר׃ you will prune

    But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land—a Sabbath to the LORD. You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 5:6 יִזָּמֵר֙ it will be pruned

    I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”

    Here: Passive: "it will not be pruned." No one will cut back the vines. Unpruned vines turn into a woody tangle that bears little fruit.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.