The Hebrew word zûwreh, represented by H2116, means that which is crushed. It appears just 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible. The term is derived from a root word meaning "trodden on," emphasizing a state of being broken or pressed under force.
The single use of H2116 occurs in a powerful metaphor describing the works of the wicked. In Isaiah 59:5, their schemes are compared to hatching cockatrice eggs and weaving spider webs. The passage warns that interacting with these works is deadly, stating that when one of these eggs is crushed, it "breaketh out into a viper." This illustrates that even attempting to destroy their evil plans only releases a more immediate and aggressive form of danger.
The context of H2116 is enriched by the words surrounding it in its only appearance:
- H1234 bâqaʻ (to cleave; ...hatch...): This verb describes both the initial "hatching" of the egg and how the viper "breaketh out" from the crushed shell, linking the creation and release of danger Isaiah 59:5.
- H1000 bêytsâh (an egg): This is the object being crushed. Eggs are presented as a source of potential danger, as seen in the warning that he who eats them dies Isaiah 59:5.
- H660 ʼephʻeh (an asp or other venomous serpent; viper): This is what emerges from the crushed egg, signifying that the result of interacting with evil is not its destruction but the release of a more venomous threat Isaiah 59:5.
- H4191 mûwth (to die): The verse links eating the eggs directly with death, a consequence of sin established as early as the warning in Eden Genesis 2:17.
The theological weight of H2116 is tied entirely to its metaphorical role in Isaiah.
- The Nature of Sin's Fruit: The word illustrates that the products of wickedness are inherently dangerous. An attempt to interfere with them—by crushing the egg—does not neutralize the threat but rather unleashes it in a more potent form, as a viper Isaiah 59:5.
- Deceptive Danger: An egg can seem dormant or self-contained. The concept of it being "crushed" reveals the hidden, active evil within. It serves as a warning that the consequences of sin are not always apparent until they are broken open.
- Inevitable Harm: The passage presents two fatal outcomes: eating the eggs leads to death, and crushing them releases a viper. H2116 is a key part of this illustration, showing there is no safe way to engage with the machinations of the unrighteous.
In summary, H2116 is a highly specific term whose meaning, that which is crushed, is used to deliver a profound theological warning. In its sole biblical appearance, it functions within a metaphor to demonstrate that the works of evil are thoroughly perilous. Any interaction, even one that seems to destroy them, only serves to release their inherent, venomous nature upon the world.
TRV