### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **zêydôwn**, represented by `{{H2121}}`, carries a dual meaning of **proud** and the **boiling of water, i.e. wave**. It is an exceedingly rare term, appearing just **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. Its single usage powerfully combines these definitions to create a vivid metaphor.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2121}}` is in [[Psalms 124:5]], which describes a hypothetical deliverance from overwhelming forces. The verse reads, "Then the **proud** waters had gone over our soul." Here, `{{H2121}}` personifies the "waters" `{{H4325}}`, depicting them not merely as a natural force but as an arrogant, swelling power threatening to consume the psalmist's very life, or "soul" `{{H5315}}`. This imagery is part of a larger reflection on what would have happened without divine aid, as the preceding verses also describe being overwhelmed by waters [[Psalms 124:4]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of this word in [[Psalms 124:5]] links it to several other key terms that complete the scene of peril:
* `{{H233}}` **'ăzay** (then): This word establishes the conditional and retrospective nature of the event, appearing at the start of verses 3, 4, and 5 to emphasize what *would have* happened.
* `{{H4325}}` **mayim** (water): This is the noun that `{{H2121}}` modifies. Waters in scripture can represent chaos or overwhelming threats, as seen when God promises his presence when passing through them [[Isaiah 43:2]].
* `{{H5674}}` **ʻâbar** (to cross over): This verb describes the action of the proud waters, which "had gone over" the soul, signifying a complete and final overwhelming.
* `{{H5315}}` **nephesh** (soul): This refers to the life or being that is under threat. It signifies more than physical existence, often encompassing one's desires, mind, and very self, which is to be kept diligently [[Deuteronomy 4:9]].
### Theological Significance
Despite its single use, the theological weight of `{{H2121}}` is significant in its metaphorical application.
* **Personification of Opposition:** By describing the waters as "proud," the text characterizes the enemies of God's people as arrogant and swelling with self-importance, much like a surging wave.
* **Symbol of Overwhelming Peril:** The image of "proud waters" serves as a powerful symbol for any force—be it armies, nations, or calamities—that threatens to annihilate the faithful. God promises to be with His people when they pass through such waters [[Isaiah 43:2]].
* **Highlighting Human Vulnerability:** The verse starkly portrays the vulnerability of the human "soul" `{{H5315}}` when faced with such insurmountable and arrogant opposition, emphasizing the need for a source of deliverance beyond oneself.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2121}}` **zêydôwn** is a precise and potent word that, in its one biblical occurrence, creates an unforgettable image. It transforms a natural element, water, into a symbol of arrogant, overwhelming force. Through this single use in [[Psalms 124:5]], it vividly illustrates the nature of existential threats and frames the context for divine salvation from forces too great for humanity to overcome alone.
TRV