The Hebrew word gâʻâh, represented by H1600, is a primitive root meaning to bellow (as cattle); low. It is a very specific term that appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, used to describe the distinct sound made by cattle.
The two uses of H1600 occur in very different contexts. In Job, it is part of a poetic, rhetorical question where Job justifies his own complaints by comparing them to the natural cries of animals. He asks, "loweth H1600 the ox H7794 over his fodder H1098?" suggesting that even a fed animal may cry out Job 6:5. In the historical narrative of 1 Samuel, the Philistines return the Ark of the Covenant on a cart pulled by two kine, which went along the highway, "lowing H1600 as they went" 1 Samuel 6:12. This sound accompanies a divinely guided act.
Several related words help clarify the context in which H1600 is used:
- H7794 shôwr (ox): This is the animal that performs the action of lowing in Job's question Job 6:5.
- H6510 pârâh (kine): These are the animals that were "lowing" as they carried the Ark of the Covenant 1 Samuel 6:12.
- H5101 nâhaq (to bray): This is the parallel verb used in Job 6:5, which describes the cry of the wild ass. It serves as a direct comparison to the "lowing" of the ox.
- H1098 bᵉlîyl (fodder): This is the cattle feed that the ox lows over, linking the sound to the context of sustenance Job 6:5.
- H1877 desheʼ (grass): In the parallel structure of Job 6:5, this is the food source for the wild ass, contrasting with the ox's fodder.
Though rare, the use of H1600 carries thematic weight in its appearances.
- A Natural Cry of Distress: In Job, the act of lowing is presented as a natural expression of an animal's state. Job uses this imagery to argue that his own cries of suffering are just as natural and justified Job 6:5.
- A Component of a Divine Sign: In 1 Samuel, the lowing of the kine is part of a miraculous sign. The animals' steady, forward movement, contrary to their maternal instincts, combined with their continuous lowing, served as undeniable proof to the Philistines that the hand of the God of Israel was at work 1 Samuel 6:12.
In summary, H1600 gâʻâh is a precise term for the lowing of cattle. While its usage is infrequent, it is employed powerfully in both poetic and narrative scripture. It effectively captures the sound of animal life to make a point about human suffering in one instance and to mark the confirmation of divine power in another.
TRV