### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **hêydâd**, represented by `{{H1959}}`, is a term for an **acclamation** or **shout(-ing)**. It appears 7 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. This specific type of shout is most often associated with the process of treading grapes during a harvest, but it can also signify a cry of war or divine judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1959}}` is used in two primary contexts: joyful labor and terrifying judgment. It is described as the shout of grape treaders, a sound of productive celebration [[Jeremiah 25:30]]. However, the prophets often use the cessation of this very sound as a powerful metaphor for desolation and loss, where joy is taken from the land and the winepresses fall silent ([[Isaiah 16:10]], [[Jeremiah 48:33]]). The term is also used as a war cry, such as when an invading army is prophesied to "lift up a **shout**" against a city [[Jeremiah 51:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context and meaning of `{{H1959}}`:
* `{{H1869}}` **dârak** (to tread): This word is directly linked to the shout, describing the action that produces it. The **shout** (hêydâd) is what is given by "as they that **tread** the grapes" [[Jeremiah 25:30]].
* `{{H1524}}` **gîyl** (joy; gladness): The presence of the harvest shout is associated with **joy**. Its absence is a sign of judgment where **joy** and **gladness** are taken from the plentiful field [[Jeremiah 48:33]].
* `{{H7580}}` **shâʼag** (to roar): This term is used in parallel with `{{H1959}}` to describe the intensity of God's judgment. The LORD will **roar** from on high and give a shout, connecting the shout to a powerful, lion-like cry [[Jeremiah 25:30]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1959}}` is found in its dramatic reversal of meaning.
* **Symbol of Blessing and Joy:** The vintage shout is an audible sign of a successful harvest and the joy that accompanies it. Its presence signifies peace and abundance in the vineyards and plentiful fields [[Isaiah 16:9-10]].
* **Indicator of Judgment:** The silencing of this shout becomes a prophetic symbol of divine wrath and desolation. When God brings judgment, He makes the vintage **shouting** to cease ([[Isaiah 16:10]], [[Jeremiah 48:33]]).
* **Cry of Divine Warfare:** The term is powerfully repurposed when God himself utters the shout of the grape treaders, not in celebration, but as a cry of judgment against all the inhabitants of the earth [[Jeremiah 25:30]]. The sound of joy becomes a sound of terror.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1959}}` is much more than a simple term for shouting. It is a specific, evocative sound tied to the grape harvest, representing both joyful celebration and the terror of its absence. The word's usage by the prophets demonstrates how a symbol of life and abundance can be transformed into a powerful harbinger of judgment and warfare, illustrating the profound consequences of turning away from God.
TRV