### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **boḗ**, represented by `{{G995}}`, translates to a **cry** or a halloo, specifically a call for aid. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, yet its singular use carries significant weight.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{G995}}` is in the context of a powerful rebuke against injustice. In [[James 5:4]], the **cries** of exploited laborers are described as having "entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth." This is not a cry of general distress but a specific appeal resulting from laborers having their wages "kept back by fraud." The verse paints a vivid picture where the injustice is so profound that the resulting **cry** reaches heaven itself, demanding divine attention.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in the surrounding text illuminate the context of this powerful cry:
* `{{G2896}}` **krázō** (cry out): This verb describes the action that produces the noun `{{G995}}`. In [[James 5:4]], the hire of the laborers "crieth" out, emphasizing an active, vocal appeal against wrongdoing. The word is also used when believers cry "Abba, Father" [[Romans 8:15]].
* `{{G2040}}` **ergátēs** (labourer, worker): This identifies who is making the cry. The term refers to a toiler, such as the **labourers** in the harvest who are few [[Luke 10:2]] or a **workman** who rightly divides the word of truth [[2 Timothy 2:15]]. In this case, it is their defrauded hire that cries out.
* `{{G2962}}` **kýrios** (Lord, master): This specifies the one to whom the cry is directed. As the supreme authority, the **Lord** is the ultimate arbiter of justice, who hears the pleas of the oppressed when human authorities fail [[James 5:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological importance of `{{G995}}`, despite its rarity, is focused and profound. It highlights God's direct concern for social and economic justice.
* **A Cry Against Injustice:** The term is used specifically as a call for aid in response to exploitation. The **cry** in [[James 5:4]] is a direct result of the sin of defrauding laborers of their wages.
* **Divine Attentiveness:** The fact that these **cries** "entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth" [[James 5:4]] establishes a key biblical principle: God hears the pleas of the oppressed and voiceless.
* **The Power of the Voiceless:** `{{G995}}` gives a voice to the wronged. It is not the laborers themselves who are said to cry out in this instance, but their withheld hire and their reaped harvests, signifying that the injustice itself has a voice that God acknowledges.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G995}}` **boḗ** is a term that, while appearing only once, offers a deep insight into God's character. More than a simple sound, it represents a "halloo" for help from the depths of injustice. Its use in [[James 5:4]] serves as a stark reminder that the exploitation of workers is an offense that generates a **cry** heard directly by the "Lord of sabaoth," the ultimate commander and authority, ensuring that no act of fraud goes unnoticed.
TRV