### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **hêlek**, represented by `{{H1982}}`, is derived from a root meaning to go. It properly signifies a journey and by implication, a **traveller** or wayfarer. It also carries the meaning of a flowing or something that has **dropped**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible, with each instance illustrating a different aspect of its definition.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1982}}` is used in two distinct contexts. In [[2 Samuel 12:4]], it identifies the **traveller** who came to a rich man, setting in motion a parable about injustice. The arrival of this visitor prompts the rich man to take a poor man's lamb to prepare a meal. In its second appearance, in [[1 Samuel 14:26]], the word is translated as **dropped**, describing honey that was flowing in a wood. The people, however, did not touch it because they were bound by an oath.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of travel and the circumstances surrounding the use of `{{H1982}}`:
* `{{H732}}` **ʼârach** (to travel; go, wayfaring (man)): This word appears alongside `{{H1982}}` in [[2 Samuel 12:4]], used to describe the "wayfaring man," directly connecting the idea of travel to the narrative.
* `{{H935}}` **bôwʼ** (to go or come): This fundamental verb is used to describe the action in both verses where `{{H1982}}` appears, marking the arrival of the traveller [[2 Samuel 12:4]] and the people coming into the wood [[1 Samuel 14:26]].
* `{{H7326}}` **rûwsh** (to be destitute; lack, needy, (make self) poor (man)): This word is key to the context of [[2 Samuel 12:4]], where the needs of the traveller are met by taking from the **poor** man, highlighting the moral stakes of the situation.
* `{{H376}}` **ʼîysh** (a man as an individual or a male person): This word provides the human element in [[2 Samuel 12:4]], defining the rich **man**, the poor **man**, and the **man** who had come to him.
### Theological Significance
The conceptual significance of `{{H1982}}` is tied to its role as a narrative catalyst.
* **Catalyst for Moral Judgment:** The appearance of the **traveller** in [[2 Samuel 12:4]] is not just about a journey; it creates a situation that reveals the rich man's character and becomes the basis for a divine rebuke.
* **A Test of Obedience:** In [[1 Samuel 14:26]], the sight of the honey that **dropped** presents a test for the people, pitting their natural hunger against their fear of a sacred oath.
* **Arrival and Consequence:** In both of its uses, `{{H1982}}` introduces an element into the story—a person or a provision—that requires a response from the main characters, leading to consequential actions.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1982}}` is a specific term that, while used only twice, carries significant narrative weight. It can define a person on a journey whose arrival forces a moral choice, or it can describe a natural event that tests the resolve of a people. Through its dual meanings of **traveller** and a flowing or dropping, the word illustrates how an unexpected arrival or opportunity can reveal underlying character and faithfulness.
TRV