The Hebrew word hâkar, represented by H1970, is a primitive root defined as to injure or make self strange. It is a very rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible. Its singular usage provides a focused and powerful look into the act of alienating another person.
The sole appearance of H1970 is in Job's poignant accusation against his friends. In Job 19:3, he laments, "These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me." Here, hâkar is used to describe the deliberate and hurtful way Job's friends are treating him. Their behavior goes beyond mere disagreement; they are actively making him an outsider and acting as if he is a stranger to them, which Job frames as an injurious act of reproach.
The context of H1970 is enriched by the words used alongside it in Job 19:3 and in related passages:
- H3637 kâlam (reproach): This root means to taunt, insult, or put to shame. It is often paired with being ashamed or confounded, highlighting the verbal and emotional hurt inflicted, as seen in passages where being confounded H3637 and ashamed H954 are linked Isaiah 45:17.
- H6235 ʻeser (ten): This word for ten is used in Job 19:3 to emphasize the repetitive nature of the friends' reproaches. It is frequently used in scripture to denote a significant or complete number, such as the ten commandments Deuteronomy 4:13 or the ten parts of Israel 2 Samuel 19:43.
- H954 bûwsh (ashamed): Meaning to be ashamed or confounded. Job uses this to point out his friends' lack of shame for their alienating behavior. The Bible often states that those who trust in the Lord will not be ashamed H954 Isaiah 49:23, while the wicked will be Jeremiah 20:11.
The theological significance of H1970, while drawn from a single verse, is potent and focused on the nature of human relationships and justice.
- Relational Injury: The word's primary contribution is to define a specific type of relational sin: the act of deliberately alienating someone and treating them as a stranger, which is presented as a form of injury Job 19:3.
- Unjust Accusation: In the context of the book of Job, the act of "making strange" is part of an unjust accusation. It demonstrates that the cruelty inflicted upon Job was not only verbal but also social and emotional, through intentional distancing.
- The Morality of Alienation: Paired with words for reproach H3637 and shame H954, the use of hâkar implies a moral failure. Job's statement suggests that making oneself strange to a person in suffering is an action for which his friends ought to be ashamed.
In summary, H1970 hâkar is a highly specific term for the act of making oneself strange to another, thereby inflicting emotional injury. Its solitary appearance in Job 19:3 anchors its meaning within the profound biblical theme of unjust suffering and relational breakdown. Though rare, it powerfully illustrates how social and emotional alienation is a deeply wounding action, distinct from but related to verbal reproach and shame.
TRV