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us into the hands [the power] of the Midianites” (Judg. 6:13). Israel was not literally in
the Midianites’ hands but was dominated by them and under their control.
Once the word represents animal paws: “And whatsoever goeth upon his paws,
among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you …” (Lev.
11:27).
In many passages
signifies the sole of the foot, the hollow part. This meaning
appears in Gen. 8:9 (first biblical appearance): “But the dove found no rest for the sole of
her foot …” (cf. Josh. 3:13 where the word is used of the sole of a human foot).
Various hollow, bending, or beaten objects are represented by
!
First, it is used of
a thigh joint: “And when he [the Angel of the Lord] saw that he prevailed not against him
[Jacob], he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of
joint, as he wrestled with him” (Gen. 32:25). Second, a certain shaped pan or vessel is
called a
&
“And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers
thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them” (Exod.
25:29). Third, the word is used of the hollow of a sling: “… And the souls of thine
enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling” (1 Sam. 25:29). Next,
the huge hand-shaped branches of palm trees are represented by the word: “And ye shall
take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the
boughs of thick trees …” (Lev. 23:40). Finally, in Song of Sol. 5:5 this word represents
the bent piece of metal or wood which forms a door handle.
B. Verb.
(
!
, 3721), “to bend, bow down.” This word appears 5 times in biblical
poetry and has cognates in Akkadian and Arabic. The verb occurs in Isa. 58:5: “… is it to
bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?”
PART
A. Particle.
(
$
, 905), “part; portion; limbs; piece of cloth; pole; shoot; alone; by
themselves; only; apart from; besides; aside from.” This word occurs about 219 times and
in all periods of biblical Hebrew.
First,
means a “part or portion” of something. In Exod. 30:34 it refers to the
portion or amount of spices mixed together to make incense for the worship of God. In
Job 18:13 the word represents the members or parts of the wicked (cf. Job 41:12—
“limbs” of a crocodile).
Second, the word means a piece of cloth: “And thou shalt make them linen breeches
to cover their nakedness …” (Exod. 28:42—first occurrence of this nuance). This word is
always used of a priestly garment or at least of a garment worn by one who appears
before God or His altar.
Third,
can mean a long piece of wood or woody material. The ark, altars, and
table of the Bread of the Presence were carried by staves passed through rings attached to
these articles: “And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the
ark may be borne with them” (Exod. 25:14—first occurrence of this nuance). In Ezek.