### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **dûwday**, represented by `{{H1736}}`, holds a dual meaning as both **mandrake** and **basket**. Derived from a root associated with boiling or love, its base definition also includes "boiler" and notes the mandrake's use as an aphrodisiac. It appears 7 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, signifying its specific but impactful role in scripture.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1736}}` is used in two distinct contexts. In Genesis, mandrakes are found by Reuben during the wheat harvest and become a point of contention between Leah and Rachel, who trades a night with Jacob for them [[Genesis 30:14-16]]. In Song of Solomon, the mandrakes give off a smell and are part of an offering of pleasant fruits to a beloved [[Song of Solomon 7:13]]. In a completely different usage, Jeremiah is shown a vision of two **baskets** `{{H1736}}` of figs set before the temple of the LORD [[Jeremiah 24:1]], where they serve as a prophetic symbol.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the contexts in which `{{H1736}}` appears:
* `{{H1730}}` **dôwd** (beloved, love): This word, from the same root as **dûwday**, highlights the theme of affection. It appears in the same verse as the mandrakes in Song of Solomon, where fruits are laid up for the **beloved** [[Song of Solomon 7:13]].
* `{{H2406}}` **chiṭṭâh** (wheat): This term grounds the Genesis narrative in a specific time, noting that Reuben found the mandrakes during the "days of **wheat** harvest" [[Genesis 30:14]].
* `{{H8384}}` **tᵉʼên** (fig): This word is crucial for the second meaning of `{{H1736}}`, specifying the contents of the baskets in Jeremiah's vision as **figs** [[Jeremiah 24:1]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1736}}` lies in its symbolic weight within its contexts.
* **Catalyst for Desire:** In Genesis, the mandrakes are a tangible object of human desire, acting as a bargaining chip in the family drama between Rachel and Leah and playing a role in the lineage of Jacob [[Genesis 30:15]].
* **Vessel for Prophecy:** As **baskets** in Jeremiah's vision, the items are not mundane but are part of a divine communication from the LORD, symbolizing the fate of the people of Judah [[Jeremiah 24:1]].
* **Emblem of Intimate Affection:** In Song of Solomon, the mandrakes are presented alongside "pleasant fruits, new and old," their distinctive "smell" contributing to a scene of rich, sensuous love and devotion [[Song of Solomon 7:13]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1736}}` is a word with two specific but powerful meanings. Whether as the coveted **mandrake** in narratives of family and love or as the symbolic **basket** in prophetic vision, it demonstrates how ordinary objects can carry extraordinary weight. **Dûwday** illustrates a biblical theme where the tangible things of the earth—plants, fruits, and containers—are used to convey profound truths about human relationships and divine messages.
TRV