### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gûwb**, represented by `{{H1461}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to dig** or **husbandman**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, making its usage highly specific within the biblical text. Its meaning is directly tied to agricultural labor and the cultivation of the land.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H1461}}` is found in the account of the Babylonian exile. The text states that the "captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen" [[2 Kings 25:12]]. The word is used to describe the agricultural laborers who remained in Judah after the main population was deported. It appears in tandem with another Hebrew word for husbandman, `{{H3009}}`, to define this specific role for the remnant.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of agricultural labor:
* `{{H3009}}` **yâgab** (a primitive root; to dig or plow; husbandman): This word is used alongside `{{H1461}}` in its only appearance [[2 Kings 25:12]] and also describes husbandmen in a parallel account of the Babylonian exile [[Jeremiah 52:16]].
* `{{H3755}}` **kôrêm** (a vinedresser; vine dresser): This term is paired directly with the concept of husbandmen. It describes the other group left behind by the captain of the guard [[2 Kings 25:12]] and is also used to describe agricultural workers in contexts of both judgment [[Joel 1:11]] and restoration [[Isaiah 61:5]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1461}}` is tied entirely to its singular context:
* **The Remnant Poor:** The word is exclusively used to describe the "poor of the land" who were left behind during the exile, highlighting a theme of a remnant being preserved in the land [[2 Kings 25:12]].
* **Agricultural Labor:** Its meaning as "husbandman" points to the fundamental work of cultivating the land. This suggests that even in the midst of national catastrophe, the basic functions of tending the land were to continue.
* **Conqueror's Strategy:** The context reveals this was a strategic decision by the Babylonian "captain of the guard" to leave a labor force to maintain the productivity of the conquered territory [[2 Kings 25:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1461}}` is a highly specific term whose entire biblical significance is derived from a single verse. It defines the role of a **husbandman** within the context of the Babylonian exile. Its use in [[2 Kings 25:12]] serves to identify the poor remnant left in Judah, their function as agricultural laborers, and the strategic decision-making of their conquerors.
TRV