### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H1750 (דּוּץ, *dûwts*) is classified as a primitive root, suggesting a fundamental and perhaps vivid action. Its primary meaning is "to leap," conveying a sense of sudden, energetic, and often upward or outward movement. This can imply agility, excitement, or even a forceful expulsion. The secondary definition, "be turned," introduces a nuance of change in direction, state, or condition. This turning can be physical, indicating a rotation or shift, or metaphorical, signifying a transformation or alteration of circumstances. The connection between "leaping" and "turning" can be understood in terms of a dynamic, often rapid, shift in position or state. A leap inherently involves a change of position, and often a twist or turn of the body. Metaphorically, a sudden, dramatic change (a "turn") might be experienced as a "leap" into a new reality.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root H1750 appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, making its few occurrences particularly significant for understanding its specific contextual nuances. The most prominent and illustrative instance is found in the book of Job.
* **[[Job 41:22]] (or 41:14 MT):** "In his neck abideth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him." (וְדָוָה לְפָנָיו תָּדוּץ).
* Here, the verb תָּדוּץ (tāḏûṣ) is in the Hiphil stem, which denotes a causative action – "to cause to leap" or "to cause to turn." The subject is "sorrow" (דָּוָה, *dāvāh*), and the context is the description of the formidable Leviathan.
* The phrase can be interpreted in a few ways, all pointing to the Leviathan's overwhelming power:
1. Sorrow itself "leaps away" or "dances away" in terror or awe before Leviathan.
2. Sorrow is "turned into joy" or "transformed into joy" by Leviathan's presence, perhaps indicating that all lesser fears or anxieties are eclipsed by the sheer terror or majesty of this creature.
3. The most common understanding, aligning with the Hiphil, is that Leviathan *causes* sorrow to be turned or transformed into joy (or perhaps, to flee and be replaced by a different emotion, such as awe).
* This usage powerfully depicts a radical, almost involuntary, transformation of an emotional state in the presence of an immense, awe-inspiring force. It underscores the Leviathan's absolute dominion within its sphere.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic range of H1750 connects it to other Hebrew terms that describe energetic movement, joy, or significant change.
* **Words for Leaping/Dancing:**
* `{{H7540}}` (רָקַד, *raqad*): "to skip, leap, dance." This is a more common verb for joyful, rhythmic movement, as seen in [[Psalm 29:6]] where mountains "skip like calves."
* `{{H6342}}` (פָּזַז, *pāzaz*): "to leap, spring." Used in [[2 Samuel 6:16]] to describe David leaping and dancing before the Ark of the Covenant, indicating exuberant worship.
* While H1750 shares the idea of "leaping," its specific application in [[Job 41:22]] suggests a more profound, perhaps even involuntary, shift rather than merely joyful expression.
* **Words for Turning/Changing:**
* `{{H2015}}` (הָפַךְ, *hāphakh*): "to turn, overturn, change, overthrow." A very broad term for physical or metaphorical reversal.
* `{{H7725}}` (שׁוּב, *shuv*): "to turn back, return, repent." Implies a change of direction, mind, or allegiance.
* The "turning" aspect of H1750 in [[Job 41:22]] implies a forceful transformation, where one state (sorrow) is made to give way to another (joy or awe) by an external, dominant power.
### Theological Significance
The limited but potent use of H1750, particularly in the context of Leviathan in [[Job 41:22]], carries significant theological weight. The description of Leviathan serves not to glorify the creature itself, but to magnify the incomprehensible power and majesty of its Creator, God.
* **Divine Sovereignty and Power:** The phrase "sorrow is turned into joy before him" (Leviathan, by extension God) speaks to the absolute, awe-inspiring power of God's creation. If a creature like Leviathan can cause such a radical, almost alchemical transformation of human emotion, how much more immense is the power of God who fashioned it? This verse profoundly underscores God's ultimate sovereignty over all things, including human experience and emotion.
* **Transformation and Deliverance:** The "leaping away" or "turning" of sorrow in the presence of overwhelming power can be seen as a metaphor for divine deliverance. Before God's majesty and power, human sorrow, despair, and suffering are shown to be ultimately powerless and are compelled to yield. This offers a glimpse into a transformative power that can radically alter circumstances and emotional states, not through human effort, but by divine decree.
* **Awe and Wonder:** The context of Job's encounter with God's speeches emphasizes the limits of human understanding and the vastness of God's wisdom and might. H1750 contributes to this theme by depicting a creature so formidable that it causes even abstract concepts like sorrow to react, thereby eliciting awe and wonder at the Creator's boundless capacity.
### Summary
The Hebrew primitive root H1750 (דּוּץ, *dûwts*) primarily conveys the meaning "to leap" and secondarily "to be turned." Its rare but impactful appearance in the biblical text, most notably in [[Job 41:22]], highlights its profound semantic depth. In this crucial passage, it describes how "sorrow is turned into joy" (וְדָוָה לְפָנָיו תָּדוּץ) before the formidable Leviathan. This usage underscores a sudden, forceful, and transformative change, where one state is compelled to yield to another by an irresistible force. Theologically, H1750 serves to magnify the overwhelming, awe-inspiring power and sovereignty of God. It suggests that before His ultimate majesty, even profound sorrow can be made to "leap away" or be radically transformed, demonstrating His absolute control over all creation and human experience. Though infrequent, the word carries a significant weight, depicting a dynamic and profound shift brought about by an ultimate power.
TRV