Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "bough" refers to the main branches of a tree. The imagery of boughs is often used in Scripture to convey themes of strength, growth, and prosperity, as well as judgment and destruction. The Hebrew word often translated as "bough" is "anaf" (עָנָף), which can also mean branch or limb.
Symbolism and Usage in Scripture1.
Strength and Prosperity: Boughs are frequently used to symbolize strength and prosperity. In
Genesis 49:22, Joseph is described as a "fruitful bough" by a spring, whose branches run over the wall. This imagery highlights Joseph's flourishing life and the blessings that extend beyond his immediate circumstances. The verse reads: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall."
2.
Judgment and Destruction: Conversely, boughs can also symbolize judgment and destruction. In
Isaiah 10:33-34, the Lord is depicted as cutting down the boughs with terrifying power, symbolizing the judgment against Assyria. The passage states: "Behold, the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, will lop off the boughs with terrifying power. The tall trees will be felled, and the lofty will be brought low. He will clear the forest thickets with an ax, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One."
3.
Restoration and Hope: In
Ezekiel 17, the parable of the two eagles and the vine uses boughs to illustrate the restoration and hope for Israel. God promises to take a tender sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it on a high and lofty mountain, where it will grow into a majestic cedar. This symbolizes the restoration of Israel under God's sovereign plan.
4.
Worship and Celebration: Boughs are also associated with worship and celebration. During the Feast of Tabernacles, the Israelites were commanded to take boughs of leafy trees to construct booths for the festival (
Leviticus 23:40). This act was a reminder of God's provision and protection during their wilderness journey.
Theological ImplicationsThe use of boughs in Scripture underscores the themes of divine blessing and judgment. The imagery of a fruitful bough reflects God's favor and the abundance that comes from living in accordance with His will. Conversely, the cutting down of boughs serves as a warning of the consequences of disobedience and pride. The restoration imagery in Ezekiel points to God's redemptive plan and the hope of renewal for His people.
In summary, the biblical concept of boughs is rich with meaning, illustrating the dual themes of growth and destruction, blessing and judgment, and ultimately, the hope of restoration through God's sovereign grace.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) An arm or branch of a tree, esp. a large arm or main branch.
2. (n.) A gallows.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BOUGHbou.
SeeBRANCH.
Greek
4746. stoibas -- branch.... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: stoibas Phonetic Spelling:
(stoy-bas') Short Definition: a
bough, branch of a tree Definition: a
bough, branch
...2798. klados -- a branch
... branch. From klao; a twig orbough (as if broken off) -- branch. see GREEK klao.
(kladoi) -- 2 Occurrences. (kladois) -- 2 Occurrences. (klados) -- 2 Occurrences...
Strong's Hebrew
5634. sarappah -- abough... 5633b, 5634. sarappah. 5635 . a
bough. Transliteration: sarappah Phonetic Spelling:
(sar-ap-paw') Short Definition: boughs.
...bough. For c'appah; a twig --
bough...6056. anaph -- abough
... 6055, 6056. anaph. 6057 . abough. Transliteration: anaph Phonetic Spelling:
(an-af') Short Definition: branches....bough, branch....
6288. porah -- abough
... 6287b, 6288. porah. 6289 . abough. Transliteration: porah Phonetic Spelling:
(peh-o-raw') Short Definition: branches....bough, branch, sprig....
6057. anaph -- a branch,bough
... 6056, 6057. anaph. 6058 . a branch,bough. Transliteration: anaph Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-nawf') Short Definition: boughs....bough, branch....
5589. c'appah -- abough, branch
... abough, branch. Transliteration: c'appah Phonetic Spelling: (seh-ap-paw') Short
Definition:bough.bough, branch Feminine of ca'iyph; a twig --bough, branch....
1808. dalith -- a branch,bough
... a branch,bough. Transliteration: dalith Phonetic Spelling: (daw-lee-yaw') Short
Definition: branches.... From dalah; something dangling, ie Abough -- branch....
5589a. seappah -- abough, branch
... abough, branch. Transliteration: seappah Short Definition: boughs. Word Origin
from the same as saiph Definition abough, branch NASB Word Usage boughs (2)....
534. amir -- the top, summit
... 533, 534. amir. 535 . the top, summit. Transliteration: amir Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-meer') Short Definition:bough....bough, branch....
7754. sowk -- branch, brushwood
... 7753, 7754. sowk. 7754a . branch, brushwood. Transliteration: sowk Phonetic
Spelling: (soke) Short Definition:bough.bough Or (feminine...
7105. qatsiyr -- harvesting, harvest
... 7104, 7105. qatsiyr. 7105a . harvesting, harvest. Transliteration: qatsiyr
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-tseer') Short Definition:bough.bough, branch, harvest...
Library
Joseph Attacked by the Archers
... broad expanse, so did the glory of heaven meet the rapture of his earthly feelings,
and giving vent to his soul , he sung, "Joseph is a fruitfulbough, even a...
Sing Heigh-Ho!
... There grows a flower on everybough; Sing heigh-ho! There grows a flower on every
bough, Its petals kiss"I'll show you how: Sing heigh-ho, and heigh-ho!...
But This, they Say, is the Very Thing which Disquiets Us...
... For when thebough that has been cut off is grafted in, a new wound is made in the
tree, to admit of its reception, that life may be given to the branch which...
How to Read the Bible
... I see him leap frombough tobough, and I feel sure that he dearly values the old
beech tree, because he has his home somewhere inside it in a hollow place...
The Crowning of Abimelech
... And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him;
and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down abough from the trees...
Mr. ...
... The boy climbed up the ladder and got upon thebough.... I saw thebough torn from
the stem, and that was all the twilight would allow me to see....
Songs of Deliverance
... It was the blessing of Joseph""Joseph is a fruitfulbough, even a fruitfulbough
by a well; whose branches run over the wall." But what next?...
Interpretation of Prophecy.
... progress through the land of Judea, ending with a figurative account of his overthrow:
"Behold the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop thebough with terror...
The History of David
... And as Absalom fled upon his mule he came under an oak, and his hair flew about
abough of the tree and held so fast that Absalom hung by his hair, and the...
part iii.
... resolutions, with corresponding action. The tree must be symmetrical from
its roots to its topmostbough. Beneficence may not stand...
Thesaurus
Bough (8 Occurrences)... a large arm or main branch. 2. (n.) A gallows. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BOUGH. bou. See BRANCH. Multi-Version Concordance
Bough (8 Occurrences).
...Branchbough
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BRANCH;BOUGH. bransh: Represented by very many
words in the Hebrew. (1) zemorah used especially of a vine branch....
Magician (5 Occurrences)
... Frazer (GoldenBough(2), I, 61) says: "Magic is a kind of savage logic, an elementary
species of reasoning based on similarity, contiguity and contrast." But...
Uppermost (11 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 17:6 Yet gleanings will be left there, like the shaking of an olive tree,
two or three olives in the top of the uppermostbough, four or five in the...
Shoot (51 Occurrences)
... RSV NIV). Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruitfulbough; A fruitfulbough by
a well; His branches shoot over the wall. (DBY). Exodus 36...
Branch (60 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main
stem, or from a principal limb orbough of a tree or other plant....
Magic (12 Occurrences)
... Frazer (GoldenBough(2), I, 61) says: "Magic is a kind of savage logic, an elementary
species of reasoning based on similarity, contiguity and contrast." But...
Fountain (57 Occurrences)
... (ASV JPS YLT). Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruitfulbough, A fruitfulbough by
a fountain; His branches run over the wall. (ASV BBE JPS YLT)....
Uncleanness (56 Occurrences)
... Frazer, in The GoldenBough, shows numerous examples of the taboo among various
tribes and nations which present striking similarity to some of Israel's laws...
Boughs (29 Occurrences)
Resources
Is Jesus a copy of Dionysus? | GotQuestions.orgBough: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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