סנה

Hebrew

Etymology 1

Root
ס־נ־ה (s-n-h)
2 terms

Uncertain, possibly derived from the unused root סָנָה (saná) with the meaning of "to be sharp, sharpen". Cognates include Classical Syriac ܣܢܝܐ (sanyā, bramble, thornbush), Arabic سَنَا (sanā, senna) and Akkadian sinûm (blackberry bush).

Pronunciation

Noun

סְנֶה • (s'nem (plural indefinite סְנָאִים or סְנָיִים) [pattern: קְטַל]

  1. (Biblical Hebrew) thornbush, bramble (especially Rubus armeniacus)
    • Tanach, Exodus 3:2, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה אֵלָיו בְּלַבַּת־אֵשׁ מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ וְהַסְּנֶה אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל׃
      And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
    • Tanach, Deuteronomy 33:16, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      וּמִמֶּגֶד אֶרֶץ וּמְלֹאָהּ וּרְצוֹן שֹׁכְנִי סְנֶה תָּבוֹאתָה לְרֹאשׁ יוֹסֵף וּלְקׇדְקֹד נְזִיר אֶחָיו׃
      And for the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, And the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush; Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that is prince among his brethren.
  2. (Proper noun) burning bush, the place where Moses experienced a divine revelation
Notes

The Septuagint translates this dis legomenon as βάτος (bátos, bramble), leaving no uncertainty regarding its meaning. This interpretation is further confirmed by Ibn Ezra: [1].

Derived terms

References

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Arabic سُنَّة (sunna).

Pronunciation

Noun

סֻנָּה • (sunáf

  1. (Islam) sunnah

References

Further reading