### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gômeʼ**, represented by `{{H1573}}`, refers to the **bulrush** or **rush**. Derived from a root meaning to absorb, it properly describes an absorbent plant like the papyrus, known for its porosity. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible, signifying its specific but important role in certain narratives and prophecies.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1573}}` is used in several key contexts. Most famously, it is the material used to construct the **ark** of **bulrushes** that protected the infant Moses on the river [[Exodus 2:3]]. It is also mentioned as a material for boat-building, specifically "vessels of **bulrushes**" used by ambassadors on the water [[Isaiah 18:2]]. The word is used in a wisdom context, with the question "Can the **rush** grow up without mire?" illustrating the need for a proper environment to thrive [[Job 8:11]]. Finally, it appears in a prophecy of restoration, where **rushes** will grow in formerly dry places, symbolizing abundance and life [[Isaiah 35:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the marshland and plant-life context of **gômeʼ**:
* `{{H260}}` **ʼâchûw** (flag, meadow): This word for marshy grass appears alongside **gômeʼ** in a parallel question: "can the **flag** grow without water?" [[Job 8:11]].
* `{{H5488}}` **çûwph** (flag, weed): This term, also meaning reed or papyrus, describes the plants by the river's brink where the ark of **bulrushes** was placed [[Exodus 2:3]].
* `{{H7070}}` **qâneh** (reed): This word for an erect reed or cane is used to describe the restored landscape where "grass with **reeds** `{{H7070}}` and **rushes** `{{H1573}}`" will flourish [[Isaiah 35:7]].
* `{{H8392}}` **têbâh** (ark): This word for a box or vessel is directly linked to **gômeʼ** in the account of Moses, where his mother constructs an "**ark** of **bulrushes**" to save him [[Exodus 2:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1573}}` is seen through the contexts in which it appears.
* **Vessel of Preservation:** The **bulrush** is central to the story of Moses's deliverance. The "**ark** of **bulrushes**" [[Exodus 2:3]] demonstrates how God can use simple, natural materials to protect and preserve his chosen leaders.
* **Symbol of Dependence:** In Job, the **rush** serves as a metaphor for dependence on a life-giving source. The statement that it cannot grow without mire or **water** `{{H4325}}` highlights a fundamental truth about the need for a sustaining environment, both physically and spiritually [[Job 8:11]].
* **Sign of Divine Restoration:** The prophecy in Isaiah, where **rushes** grow in what was once "parched ground" `{{H8273}}` and "thirsty land" `{{H6774}}`, uses the plant as a tangible sign of God's power to bring life and abundance to desolate places [[Isaiah 35:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1573}}` is more than just a botanical term. It is a word that, across its four appearances, carries significant narrative and symbolic weight. From its use as the material for the life-saving **ark** of Moses [[Exodus 2:3]] to its role as a metaphor for dependence [[Job 8:11]] and a sign of divine renewal [[Isaiah 35:7]], the **bulrush** illustrates how God works through the natural world to enact His plans of protection and restoration.
TRV