probably the same as בּוּץ; mud (as whitish clay); mire.
Transliteration:bôts
Pronunciation:botse
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma בֹץ (bôts, H1206) is fundamentally defined as "mud" or "mire." The base definition further specifies it as "whitish clay," suggesting a particular type or characteristic of earth. Notably, the definition posits it is "probably the same as בּוּץ (bûts, `{{H948}}`)," which means "fine linen." This etymological connection, if accurate, might point to a shared root related to whiteness or purity, implying that בֹץ could refer to a lighter, perhaps purer, form of clay or mud, rather than merely dark, common earth. Its semantic range thus encompasses a physical substance – wet, soft, often sticky earth – which, by extension, carries connotations of impurity, instability, difficulty, and a low or submerged state.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word בֹץ (H1206) appears in the Hebrew Bible in three distinct passages, each offering unique contextual insights:
* **[[Job 8:11]]**: "Can papyrus grow up without mire? Can rushes flourish without water?"
* In Bildad's discourse, בֹץ is presented as the necessary medium for the growth of aquatic plants like papyrus and rushes. Here, it is a natural element, foundational and life-sustaining within its specific ecosystem. Its absence signifies decay and inability to thrive, highlighting a dependence on the proper environment for flourishing. This usage is descriptive of the natural world, rather than metaphorical for human experience.
* **[[Psalm 69:2]]**: "I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overwhelm me."
* Within this profound lament, בֹץ is employed metaphorically to describe a state of overwhelming distress and peril. The psalmist uses the imagery of "deep mire" (בּוֹץ מְצוּלָה) to convey a situation of extreme instability and entrapment, where there is "no foothold." It vividly portrays a descent into a hopeless and inescapable predicament, paralleled with being overwhelmed by "deep waters" and "floods."
* **[[Psalm 69:14]]**: "Deliver me from the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters."
* Continuing the theme from [[Psalm 69:2]], this verse is a fervent plea for divine rescue. The "mire" here represents the dire circumstances from which the psalmist seeks deliverance. It is a place of vulnerability and imminent sinking, emphasizing the need for external, divine intervention to be lifted out of an otherwise fatal entanglement.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for בֹץ (H1206) is to בּוּץ (bûts, `{{H948}}`), "fine linen." This suggests a possible shared etymological root related to whiteness or purity, indicating that בֹץ might originally have referred to a specific type of light-colored or pure clay.
Other related Hebrew words for "mud," "clay," or "mire" include:
* טִיט (ṭîṭ, `{{H2916}}`): A more common word for "clay" or "mire," often used for potter's clay or as a symbol of defilement or the material from which humanity is formed (e.g., [[Jeremiah 38:6]], [[Isaiah 41:25]]).
* חֹמֶר (ḥōmer, `{{H2563}}`): Another term for "clay," "mire," or "mortar," frequently used in contexts of building or creation (e.g., [[Job 4:19]], [[Job 10:9]]).
Conceptually, בֹץ relates to:
* **Instability and Peril:** The lack of solid ground and the danger of sinking.
* **Entrapment and Helplessness:** Being stuck in an inescapable situation.
* **Lowliness and Humiliation:** A state of being brought low or abased.
* **Dependence:** As seen in Job, the reliance of certain life forms on their specific environment.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of בֹץ (H1206) is most powerfully conveyed through its metaphorical use in the Psalms. It serves as a potent image for:
* **Human Vulnerability and Despair:** The "deep mire" vividly portrays the human condition when overwhelmed by suffering, sin, or external threats. It symbolizes situations where individuals feel utterly trapped, without any means of self-rescue, highlighting profound helplessness and despair. This imagery underscores the precariousness of life and the inherent limitations of human strength.
* **The Necessity of Divine Deliverance:** The psalmist's fervent cry, "Deliver me from the mire," transforms בֹץ into a theological symbol of the need for God's redemptive intervention. It is a powerful articulation of faith that only God can lift one out of the deepest and most perilous circumstances, offering salvation from spiritual, emotional, or physical entrapment. God is depicted as the ultimate rescuer, whose power transcends all earthly obstacles.
* **The World as a Source of Trouble:** In its metaphorical sense, בֹץ can represent the mire of worldly troubles, temptations, or corrupting influences that can ensnare and overwhelm the believer, necessitating a constant reliance on divine grace to navigate and overcome.
* **Paradoxical Sustenance (from Job):** While predominantly a symbol of distress in the Psalms, the usage in Job offers a nuanced perspective. Here, בֹץ is part of God's created order, essential for the sustenance of certain life forms. This subtle duality reminds us that elements of creation, while potentially hazardous in one context, are also integral to the divine design and sustain life in another.
### Summary
The Hebrew word בֹץ (bôts, H1206) denotes "mud" or "mire," specifically "whitish clay," and may share an etymological root with `{{H948}}` ("fine linen") suggesting a connection to whiteness. Its limited biblical occurrences are highly impactful. In [[Job 8:11]], בֹץ functions as a natural, essential element for the growth of aquatic plants, illustrating the dependence of life on its proper environment. However, its profound theological weight emerges in [[Psalm 69:2]] and [[Psalm 69:14]], where בֹץ serves as a powerful metaphor for overwhelming distress, a perilous and unstable situation from which the psalmist desperately seeks divine deliverance. The imagery conveys a sense of being trapped, sinking, and utterly without recourse apart from God's intervention. בֹץ thus vividly portrays human vulnerability and the urgent, absolute need for God's redemptive rescue from the mire of life's deepest troubles, affirming God as the sole source of salvation from otherwise inescapable predicaments.
TRV