סְמָדַר
𐤎𐤌𐤃𐤓
çᵉmâdar
H5563 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Flower or blossom of the grapevine, especially the early-stage flower indicating the promise of grapes to come. Refers specifically to the stage when the vine is in bloom, but the fruit has not yet set, conveying both the physical blossom and the metaphorical sense of freshness, promise, or newness.
Semantic Range
vine blossom, grape flower, abloom, the blossom stage of grapevine, symbolic freshness or promise
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain; the term סְמָדַר does not have a securely identified Hebrew root and may be a loanword from a related Semitic language or an onomatopoeic formation. Its construction is unusual for native Hebrew nouns.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סְמָדַר occurs only in poetic passages of the Song of Songs (2:13, 2:15, 7:13), where it describes the blossoming of the vine as a symbol of renewal, fertility, or youthful love. In ancient viticulture, the appearance of the 'סְמָדַר' marks a pivotal seasonal moment preceding the development of grapes. Standard translations often render the term as 'tender grape,' 'vine blossom,' or 'blossoming vines,' but the Hebrew term refers to the stage prior to fruit setting, not to unripe grapes. The Septuagint translates this word as 'ἄμπελος,' a generic term for 'vine,' potentially missing the more specific nuance. Later Jewish exegetical tradition sometimes associates it with early unripe grapes, but strictly in the Hebrew Bible, it denotes the flower stage. Its rare usage and appearance only in the Song of Songs reflect its poetic character and agricultural imagery; it is not a general term for grape or fruit. No direct cognates are found in other Semitic languages, supporting the theory of uncertain, possibly foreign origin.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; a vine blossom; used also adverbially, abloom; tender grape.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סמד״ר (s-m-d-r (uncertain)) — blossom, vine bloom, early grape flower, budding stage
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5563-02 |
סְמָדַ֖ר | semadar | HNcmsa |
in blossom | vine blossom | 2 |
H5563-01 |
הַ/סְּמָדַ֔ר | hasemadar | HTd/Ncmsa |
the-mandrakes | the vine-blossom | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5563-02 |
Song of Songs 2:13 | סְמָדַ֖ר | semadar | HNcmsa |
in blossom | vine blossom |
H5563-02 |
Song of Songs 2:15 | סְמָדַֽר | semadar | HNcmsa |
in blossom | vine blossom |
H5563-01 |
Song of Songs 7:13 | הַ/סְּמָדַ֔ר | hasemadar | HTd/Ncmsa |
the-mandrakes | the vine-blossom |