Lexical Summary sowk: Thicket, Covering Original Word: שׂוֹךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bough Or (feminine) sowkah {so-kaw'}; from suwk; a branch (as interleaved) -- bough. see HEBREW suwk Brown-Driver-Briggs [שׂוֺךְ] noun [masculine] branch or brushwood; — suffix 3 masculine singular שׂוֺכֹּה Judges 9:49 (Ges§ 91e; but see GFM Bu). [שׂוֺכָה] noun feminine id.; — construct שׂוֺכַת עֵצִים Judges 9:48 #NAME?שׂוֺכָה Judges 9:49 (so ᵐ5 Door for ᵑ0 שׂוֺכֹה). Topical Lexicon Textual Occurrences שׂוֹךְ appears only in Judges 9:48 and Judges 9:49, both within the narrative of Abimelech’s assault on the stronghold of Shechem. The Berean Standard Bible records Abimelech’s command: “Hurry and do what you have seen me do!” (Judges 9:48), after he “cut a branch” (שׂוֹךְ) from the trees of Mount Zalmon and set fire to the tower where the people had taken refuge. The unique repetition in consecutive verses fixes the term’s meaning in a dramatic, violent scene of judgment. Semantic Field and Imagery שׂוֹךְ designates a sizable limb or bough cut for immediate, practical use—more substantial than mere twigs, yet light enough for a soldier to carry. The context links it to combustible material. The imagery of freshly cut branches turned into instruments of fire evokes themes of sudden calamity and the turning of natural provision into means of destruction. Historical and Cultural Background 1. Warfare Tactics: In ancient Near Eastern siege warfare, brushwood and branches were common for setting fire to gates or towers. Abimelech’s strategy follows established military practice but is reported with uncommon detail, emphasizing his ruthless ingenuity. Theological Themes • Divine Retribution: Gideon refused kingship, yet Abimelech seized power through bloodshed. The burning of the tower with שׂוֹךְ-branches fulfills Jotham’s earlier curse (Judges 9:20), illustrating God’s sovereignty in judging unrighteous leadership. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Leadership Accountability: Spiritual leaders must guard against Abimelech-like ambition and violence. Churches can study Judges 9 to cultivate humble, servant-hearted governance. Christological and Redemptive Foreshadowings The branches raised for judgment at Shechem contrast with the Branch (Isaiah 11:1) who brings peace. Where Abimelech’s שׂוֹךְ consumes sinners, the Messiah turns a wooden cross—another instrument of death—into the means of salvation. The episode thus heightens appreciation for divine mercy that overcomes human violence. See Also Judges 9:6–57; Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; John 15:5 Forms and Transliterations שׂוֹכַ֣ת שׂוֹכֹ֗ה שוכה שוכת śō·w·ḵaṯ śō·w·ḵōh soChat soChoh śōwḵaṯ śōwḵōhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 9:48 HEB: בְּיָד֗וֹ וַיִּכְרֹת֙ שׂוֹכַ֣ת עֵצִ֔ים וַיִּ֨שָּׂאֶ֔הָ NAS: and cut down a branch from the trees, KJV: and cut down a bough from the trees, INT: his hand and cut A branch the trees and lifted Judges 9:49 2 Occurrences |