### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **challâmûwth**, represented by `{{H2495}}`, is used to refer to an **egg**. It appears just **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. Its base definition suggests a connection to insipidity, and its singular use is part of a rhetorical question about things that are bland or tasteless.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2495}}` is in the book of Job. In a moment of deep suffering, Job poses a question: "Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an **egg**?" [[Job 6:6]]. Here, the word illustrates something utterly lacking in flavor, used as a powerful metaphor for Job's unendurable and seemingly pointless affliction.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context in [[Job 6:6]] help illuminate its meaning:
* `{{H8602}}` **tâphêl** (unsavoury): This word, used to describe the food, also means "foolish things" or "untempered." It appears elsewhere to describe the visions of false prophets [[Lamentations 2:14]] and flimsy walls built with "untempered morter" [[Ezekiel 13:10]].
* `{{H4417}}` **melach** (salt): In contrast to the tastelessness of the egg, salt represents seasoning, preservation, and value. It is essential for offerings and is used to signify a permanent "covenant of **salt**" ([[Leviticus 2:13]], [[2 Chronicles 13:5]]).
* `{{H2940}}` **ṭaʻam** (taste): This word is paired with `{{H2495}}` in Job's question. While it means physical taste, it more broadly signifies perception, judgment, and discretion. It is used to describe wise **advice** [[1 Samuel 25:33]], a royal **decree** [[Jonah 3:7]], and good **judgment** [[Psalms 119:66]].
* `{{H7388}}` **rîyr** (white of an egg): This word is also defined as saliva or **spittle**. Its only other use describes David letting **spittle** fall on his beard while feigning madness, reinforcing an image of something contemptible [[1 Samuel 21:13]].
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H2495}}` is derived entirely from its metaphorical role in Job's lament.
* **A Metaphor for Insipid Suffering:** The primary function of the word is to serve as an analogy for Job's experience. He finds his circumstances as unpalatable and pointless as eating the white of an egg without salt.
* **The Absence of Wisdom and Value:** The egg's lack of "taste" `{{H2940}}` symbolizes a lack of reason or judgment. Contrasted with "salt" `{{H4417}}`, a symbol of covenant and value, the egg represents something worthless and devoid of substance.
* **A Tangible Complaint:** The use of `{{H2495}}` grounds Job's abstract suffering in a concrete, relatable image. It is a physical illustration of the "unsavoury" `{{H8602}}` or "foolish" nature of the arguments and platitudes he is forced to endure.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2495}}` is a highly specific term whose significance is magnified by its singular, powerful use. While literally meaning **egg**, it functions in [[Job 6:6]] as a cornerstone of a metaphor for meaninglessness. Its full impact is understood through the words it is contrasted with, such as "salt" (value, preservation) and "taste" (wisdom, judgment), making it a poignant symbol in the biblical exploration of suffering.
TRV