Original Word: צַמֶּרֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: tsammereth
Pronunciation: tsam-meh'-reth
Phonetic Spelling: (tsam-meh'-reth)
KJV: highest branch, top
NASB: top
Word Origin: [from the same as H6785 (צֶּמֶר - wool)]

1. fleeciness, i.e. foliage

highest branch, top

From the same as tsemer; fleeciness, i.e. Foliage -- highest branch, top.

see HEBREW tsemer

Word Origin
from the same as tsemer
Definition
(tree) top
NASB Translation
top (5).

צַמֶּ֫רֶת noun feminine tree-top (possibly from woolly, feathery,appearance); — ׳צ construct, of cedar (in figurative) Ezekiel 17:3,22, so suffix צַמַּרְתּוֺ Ezekiel 31:3,10; of tall trees in General, צַמַּרְתָּם Ezekiel 31:14.

Imagery and Natural Setting

צַמֶּרֶת pictures the crown, or highest branch, of a mighty cedar—an emblem of loftiness, strength, and visibility. Cedars of Lebanon were the skyscrapers of the ancient Near East, rising above every other tree (1 Kings 4:33). Their proud tops pierced the clouds, making the “treetop” a ready metaphor for political power, royal lineage, and human pride.

Occurrences in Ezekiel

1. Ezekiel 17:3 – “He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade.”
2. Ezekiel 17:22 – “I will take a shoot from the lofty crown of that cedar and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.”
3. Ezekiel 31:3 – “Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon… its top was among the clouds.”
4. Ezekiel 31:10 – “Because it towered high, set its top among the clouds, and grew proud in its height…”
5. Ezekiel 31:14 – “…so that no trees watered by the deep will exalt themselves in height or set their tops among the clouds.”

Prophetic Symbolism

The Parable of the Two Eagles (Ezekiel 17)
• The first eagle (Babylon) strips the tsammeret, transplanting Judah’s royal house.
• The second eagle (Egypt) tempts the transplanted vine, leading to disaster.
• The Lord then promises to “take a shoot from the lofty crown” and plant it securely, prefiguring the preservation of the Davidic line and the future reign of the Messiah (compare Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5).

The Allegory of the Cedar and Assyria (Ezekiel 31)
• Assyria is portrayed as a cedar with a tsammeret in the clouds, envied by every tree.
• Pride brings divine judgment; the top is felled, warning Egypt—and every nation—that no human kingdom is unassailable.
• The repeated mention of the cedar’s crown underscores God’s sovereignty over all earthly authority (Psalm 75:6-7).

Theological Themes

Sovereign Uprooting and Planting

God alone exalts or abases rulers (Daniel 4:34-37). By breaking off or replanting the tsammeret, He declares mastery over history and covenant fulfillment.

Messianic Hope

“I Myself will plant it,” says the Lord (Ezekiel 17:22). The humble sprig grows into a majestic cedar where “birds of every kind will dwell.” Jesus applies similar imagery to the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:31-32), linking the promise to His own reign.

Humility versus Pride

The Assyrian tsammeret shows that self-exaltation invites downfall (Proverbs 16:18). In ministry, the image counsels leaders to serve under God’s authority, not above it (1 Peter 5:5-6).

Universal Shelter

The final cedar becomes a refuge for “every kind of bird” (Ezekiel 17:23), anticipating the ingathering of the Gentiles (Acts 10:34-35; Ephesians 2:14-19).

Historical Background

Cedars of Lebanon furnished temple beams for Solomon (1 Kings 5:6-10) and symbolized imperial splendor across the ancient Near East. Ezekiel, prophesying in Babylonian exile (circa 593-571 B.C.), draws on this well-known emblem to make his message unmistakable both to Judean exiles and to surrounding nations.

Ministry Applications

• Preaching: Contrast the proud cedar of Assyria with the humble shoot God plants, calling congregations to embrace Christ’s kingdom ethos.
• Counseling Leaders: Use the tsammeret as a cautionary tale against ambition detached from submission to God.
• Missions: Highlight the final cedar’s inclusive canopy as motivation for global evangelism.
• Worship: Celebrate God’s faithfulness in sustaining the Davidic line and establishing an everlasting kingdom despite human rebellion.

Summary

צַמֶּרֶת, the lofty cedar crown, frames both judgment and hope: judgment on self-exalting powers and hope in the sprig God plants. From exile’s warnings to the promise of a universal, sheltering kingdom, the treetop directs hearts upward—to the King who rules from heaven and gathers all who trust in Him beneath His branches.

מִצַּמֶּ֧רֶת מצמרת צַמֶּ֥רֶת צַמַּרְתָּם֙ צַמַּרְתּֽוֹ׃ צַמַּרְתּוֹ֙ צמרת צמרתו צמרתו׃ צמרתם miṣ·ṣam·me·reṯ miṣṣammereṯ mitztzamMeret ṣam·mar·tām ṣam·mar·tōw ṣam·me·reṯ ṣammartām ṣammartōw ṣammereṯ tzammarTam tzammarTo tzamMeretInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts