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57 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, it is used primarily as a poetic synonym for the
much more common verb
, “to do, to make.” Thus, almost half the occurrences of
this verb are in the Book of Psalms.
8
is used for the first time in the Old Testament
in the Song of Moses: “… The place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in
…” (Exod. 15:17). There is no distinction in the use of this verb, whether God or man is
its subject. In Ps. 15:2 man is the subject: “He that walketh uprightly and worketh
righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”
(
*
, 6213), “to make, do, create.” This root also occurs in Moabite and
Phoenician (only in a proper name). It occurs in early extra-biblical Hebrew, Hebrew, and
about 2,625 times in the Bible (in all periods). It should be distinguished from the second
sense of
, “to squeeze.”
In its primary sense this verb represents the production of various objects. This
includes making images and idols: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image …”
(Exod. 20:4). The verb can mean to make something into something: “And the residue
thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image …” (Isa. 44:17). In an extended use this
verb means to prepare a meal, a banquet, or even an offering: “And he [Abraham] took
butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them [his three
guests] …” (Gen. 18:8).
In Gen. 12:5
means “to acquire” (as it often does): “And Abram took Sarai his
wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the
souls that they had gotten in Haran.…” The “souls that they had gotten” probably were
slaves.
Used in association with “Sabbath” or the name of other holy days, this word
signifies “keeping” or “celebrating”: “All the congregation of Israel shall keep it [the
Passover]” (Exod. 12:47). In a related sense the word means “to spend” a day: “For who
knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth
as a shadow?” (Eccl. 6:12).
Depending upon its object,
has several other nuances within the general
concept of producing some product. For example, with the object “book” the verb means
“to write”: “… Of making many books there is no end …” (Eccl. 12:12). The Bible also
uses this word of the process of war: “These made war with Bera king of Sodom …”
(Gen. 14:2). Sometimes the word represents an action: “And Joshua made peace with
them, and made a league with them …” (Josh. 9:15). “To make a mourning” is to observe
it: “… And he [Joseph] made a mourning for his father seven days” (Gen. 50:10). With
“name” the verb means “to gain prominence and fame”: “Go to, let us build us a city and
a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name …” (Gen. 11:4).
With the word “workmanship” the word signifies “to work”: “And I have filled him with
the spirit of God … , and in all manner of workmanship, … to work in gold, and in silver,
and in brass” (Exod. 31:3-4).
*
may represent the relationship of an individual to another in his action or
behavior, in the sense of what one does. So Pharaoh asks Abram: “What is this that thou
hast done unto me?” (Gen. 12:18). Israel pledged: “All that the Lord hath said will we do,
and be obedient” (Exod. 24:7). With the particle the verb signifies inflicting upon