root
she.resh denotes a plant’s underground root system and, in some clauses, a source, line, or underlying basis.
The term most often identifies the underground parts of plants and trees, whether they receive water, remain beneath a vine, dry up, or are torn out. It also appears in images of a source or line of descent, in a statement about the basis of a matter, and for the base of mountains or the sea.
Senses in use
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Underground parts of plants and trees · dominant
In Ezekiel 17:6 the plural construct form belongs to a vine whose roots remain beneath it, while Ezekiel 17:9 depicts roots being torn out. Jeremiah 17:8 describes a tree sending out its roots by a stream, and Job 18:16 contrasts roots drying beneath with foliage withering above.
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Source or line of descent · common
In Daniel 11:7 the plural construct form occurs in the clause about one standing from the line of her roots. Isaiah 11:1 joins a branch with Jesse’s roots, while Isaiah 14:29 describes a serpent coming forth out of a serpent’s root.
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Underlying basis or lowest base · occasional
Job 19:28 uses the singular construct form in the clause, "the root of the matter is found in me," presenting an underlying matter rather than a plant. Job 28:9 speaks of overturning mountains at their root, and Job 36:30 refers to the roots of the sea, extending the term to a lowest or foundational location.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with "root" or "roots" in plant, vine, and tree imagery, including roots that receive water, wither, or are removed. It also uses "root" for a line, a matter’s basis, and the base of mountains or the sea; These renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent.