The Hebrew word bârûwth, represented by H1267, means food or meat. It is an exceedingly rare term, appearing only 1 time in the entire Bible. Its sole usage defines its scriptural meaning not as a general term for sustenance, but as a specific element in a scene of profound suffering and cruelty.
The single biblical context for H1267 is in a lament of deep distress. In Psalms 69:21, the psalmist cries out that his tormentors gave him gall for his meat. In this verse, the expectation of receiving life-giving food is met with the perverse offering of poison, highlighting the extreme nature of the persecution being described. The word is used to establish a stark contrast between what is needed for life and what is offered for torment.
The meaning of H1267 is illuminated by the words surrounding it in its only appearance:
- H5414 nâthan (to give): This primitive root, meaning to give, put, or make, is used for the cruel action of providing poison instead of food Psalms 69:21.
- H7219 rôʼsh (gall, poison): This is what was given in place of meat H1267. Defined as a poisonous plant, gall, or venom, it stands in direct opposition to the concept of nourishing food.
- H6772 tsâmâʼ (thirst): This word describes the psalmist's physical state of need, which, like his hunger, is met with a cruel substitute Psalms 69:21.
- H2558 chômets (vinegar): Paired with the offering of gall, vinegar is given to quench the psalmist's thirst, compounding the act of cruelty.
- H8248 shâqâh (to drink): This word, meaning to cause to drink, is used to describe the act of forcing the psalmist to consume the vinegar Psalms 69:21.
The theological significance of H1267 is derived entirely from its context of affliction.
- Perversion of Sustenance: The primary theme is the twisting of a life-sustaining act into one of torment. The expectation of receiving meat is subverted by the act of being given H5414 gall H7219.
- Symbol of Injustice: The word's use in Psalms 69:21 serves as a powerful symbol for the experience of a righteous sufferer who receives evil in return for their vulnerability and need.
- Expression of Anguish: Rather than contributing to a doctrine of food, H1267 functions to measure the depth of anguish. The denial of something as basic as meat and the provision of poison in its place captures a state of absolute rejection and persecution.
In summary, bârûwth H1267 is a term whose significance is not in its definition of food alone, but in its unique and dramatic biblical usage. Appearing just once, it serves as the focal point in a depiction of extreme suffering in Psalms 69:21. Its meaning is forever tied to the contrast between the life-giving sustenance it represents and the bitter poison that was offered in its stead, making it a powerful scriptural symbol of injustice and affliction.
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