### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chêyq**, represented by `{{H2436}}`, refers to the **bosom**, **lap**, or **midst**. Derived from a root meaning "to inclose," it appears 39 times across 34 unique verses. The term signifies both a literal, physical space on the body and a figurative place of intimacy, secrecy, or consequence.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H2436}}` carries several distinct meanings. It denotes a place of tender care and intimacy, as when a shepherd carries lambs in his **bosom** [[Isaiah 40:11]] or when Naomi lays a child in her **bosom** to nurse it [[Ruth 4:16]]. The phrase "wife of thy **bosom**" signifies a deeply intimate relationship [[Deuteronomy 13:6]]. Figuratively, it is a place of recompense, where God repays the iniquity of the fathers into the **bosom** of their children [[Jeremiah 32:18]]. It is also used for hidden things, such as a gift taken from the **bosom** to pervert judgment [[Proverbs 17:23]]. In an architectural sense, it can refer to the **bottom** of an altar [[Ezekiel 43:13]] or the **midst** of a chariot [[1 Kings 22:35]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the conceptual range of **chêyq**:
* `{{H2263}}` **châbaq** (to clasp (the hands or in embrace)): This verb describes the action of intimacy often associated with the bosom, such as the warning not to **embrace** the **bosom** of a stranger [[Proverbs 5:20]].
* `{{H5643}}` **çêther** (a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)): This word for a secret place connects to the bosom's role as a place of concealment. A gift given in **secret** is paralleled with a reward in the **bosom** [[Proverbs 21:14]].
* `{{H1486}}` **gôwrâl** (properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot): This term is directly linked to the literal meaning of "lap," as seen when the **lot** is cast into the **lap** [[Proverbs 16:33]].
* `{{H539}}` **ʼâman** (to foster as a parent or nurse): This word for nurturing is used alongside `{{H2436}}` to describe a **nursing father** carrying a child in his **bosom** [[Numbers 11:12]] and Naomi becoming a **nurse** to the child in her **bosom** [[Ruth 4:16]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2436}}` is multifaceted, touching on themes of divine care, justice, and human relationships.
* **Divine Intimacy and Care:** The image of God as a shepherd carrying lambs in his **bosom** powerfully illustrates his tender, personal, and protective nature [[Isaiah 40:11]]. This is echoed in the description of a **nursing father** carrying a child in his **bosom** [[Numbers 11:12]].
* **Personal Recompense:** The bosom serves as a figurative destination for divine judgment. God recompenses the **iniquity** of fathers into the **bosom** of their children [[Jeremiah 32:18]] and measures their former work into their **bosom** [[Isaiah 65:7]].
* **Sanctuary of Trust and Betrayal:** The term highlights the deep vulnerability within the closest human bonds. The "wife of thy **bosom**" [[Deuteronomy 13:6]] denotes profound intimacy, yet this is also where temptation or evil can arise. The warning to keep one's mouth from "her that lieth in thy **bosom**" underscores this potential for betrayal [[Micah 7:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2436}}` is a rich term that extends far beyond a simple anatomical location. It is a word that defines a space of closeness and vulnerability, whether in the tender care of a shepherd, the love between a husband and wife, or the nurturing of a child. At the same time, it can represent a place of hidden schemes, moral corruption, and the final reception of divine judgment. From the gentle embrace of God to the base of an altar, **chêyq** illustrates a profound biblical concept of intimate and consequential space.
TRV