### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gᵉdûwdâh**, represented by `{{H1418}}`, is a term for an **incision** or **cutting**. It appears only **1 time** in the Bible, within a single verse. As a feminine participle passive form derived from a root meaning "to cut," it describes something that has received a cutting, such as a furrow made in the earth for agriculture.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{H1418}}` is found in a psalm of praise that celebrates God's provision for the land. In [[Psalms 65:10]], the word is part of a detailed description of how God prepares the earth for a harvest: "thou settlest the **furrows** thereof." Here, the "cuttings" in the soil are not a sign of damage but are part of a necessary agricultural process that God himself oversees, making the ground ready to receive rain and produce life.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words found in the same verse help to build the complete picture of divine provision:
* `{{H1417}}` **gᵉdûwd** (a furrow (as cut); furrow): This is another word for furrow or cutting. While it appears with `{{H1418}}` in an agricultural context [[Psalms 65:10]], it is also used to describe ritual **cuttings** made on the hands during mourning [[Jeremiah 48:37]].
* `{{H8525}}` **telem** (a bank or terrace; furrow, ridge): This word refers to the **ridges** of a plowed field that God waters abundantly in the same passage [[Psalms 65:10]].
* `{{H7241}}` **râbîyb** (a rain (as an accumulation of drops); shower): These are the **showers** that God sends to soften the earth and settle the furrows, enabling growth [[Psalms 65:10]]. The same word is used to describe life-giving doctrine [[Deuteronomy 32:2]].
* `{{H1288}}` **bârak** (to kneel; by implication to bless): This is the ultimate result of God's preparation of the soil. After watering the ridges and settling the furrows, God **blesses** the new growth that springs from the earth [[Psalms 65:10]].
### Theological Significance
Though used only once, the theological significance of `{{H1418}}` is tied to its context of God's creative care.
* **Purpose in Preparation:** The "incision" in the earth is not an end in itself but a purposeful step in God's plan for provision. It illustrates that what might seem like a simple breaking of the ground is a necessary preparation for future blessing.
* **Divine Intervention:** The furrow does not become fruitful on its own. It requires God to settle it, soften it with showers `{{H7241}}`, and ultimately bless `{{H1288}}` what springs `{{H6780}}` from it, showing a dependency on divine action for life and growth.
* **God's Intimate Care:** The specific mention of tending to the furrows highlights the intimate and detailed nature of God's care for creation. He is portrayed as a master farmer who meticulously prepares the land to ensure its fruitfulness.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1418}}` **gᵉdûwdâh** is a highly specific term for a "cutting" or incision. Its single biblical appearance in [[Psalms 65:10]] firmly places it within an agricultural metaphor for God's provision. It is a key element in a sequence that shows God's hands-on involvement in preparing the earth, transforming a simple cut in the ground into a channel for life-giving water and a source of divine blessing.
TRV