נִצָּן
𐤍𐤑𐤍
nitstsân
H5339 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A young shoot or bud, especially one that has just emerged and is visibly growing or swelling, signifying the earliest stage of blossoming in a plant; in poetic or figurative contexts, used to represent freshness, first signs of new life, or renewal.
Semantic Range
bud, young shoot, emerging blossom, swelling on a plant that precedes a flower; figurative use for new beginnings or renewal
Root / Etymology
From the root נֵץ (netz), meaning 'bud' or 'flower bud.' נִצָּן (nitsan) is a noun form denoting a visible, emerging shoot or swelling bud on a plant. The root conveys the idea of putting forth or sprouting, with the noun emphasizing the nascent phase of flowering rather than the fully opened blossom.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נִצָּן occurs only in Song of Songs 2:12, describing the appearance of early buds as a symbol of spring and new beginnings. This term is rare and more specific than general words for 'flower' (e.g., פֶּרַח, perach), focusing on the earliest visible part of a plant's renewal cycle before full blooming. Later Hebrew continues to use נִצָּן in this precise sense. English translations often render it simply as 'flowers,' but this misses the nuance of early budding as opposed to full bloom. The association is clearly agricultural and seasonal, linked to the agricultural calendar and symbolizing rejuvenation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נֵץ; a blossom; flower.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נץ (n-ṣ) — to bud, sprout, bloom
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5322 | נֵץ | the blossom |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5339-01 |
הַ/נִּצָּנִים֙ | hanitsanim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the flowers | the emerging buds | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5339-01 |
Song of Songs 2:12 | הַ/נִּצָּנִים֙ | hanitsanim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the flowers | the emerging buds |