### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼâch**, represented by `{{H253}}`, is an interjection used to express grief or surprise. It is a variation of another word for "Oh!" and is best translated as **ah** or **alas**. Though it appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, its usage is pointed and carries significant emotional weight in the context of prophetic judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Both occurrences of `{{H253}}` are found in the book of Ezekiel, where the prophet is commanded to vocalize God's sorrow and warning. In one instance, God instructs the prophet to cry "**Alas** for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel," linking the expression directly to the sins that will lead to their fall by sword, famine, and pestilence [[Ezekiel 6:11]]. In the second case, the word "**ah**" is uttered in response to the sight of a sword prepared for judgment, highlighting the terror of its readiness: "it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter" [[Ezekiel 21:15]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words used alongside `{{H253}}` illuminate the context of divine judgment:
* `{{H7451}}` **raʻ** (evil): This term defines the moral corruption and **evil** that provokes the cry of "Alas" [[Ezekiel 6:11]]. It refers to badness in a natural or moral sense, including calamity and affliction.
* `{{H2719}}` **chereb** (sword): A key instrument of judgment in both passages where `{{H253}}` appears. This word for a cutting instrument signifies the destructive force of the coming judgment ([[Ezekiel 6:11]], [[Ezekiel 21:15]]).
* `{{H4127}}` **mûwg** (to faint): This word describes the effect of the sword, that hearts may **faint** or melt in fear. It is the direct precursor to the exclamation "**ah**" in Ezekiel's vision of the sword [[Ezekiel 21:15]].
* `{{H2874}}` **ṭebach** (slaughter): This term specifies the purpose of the sharpened sword. The cry of "**ah**" is directly associated with a weapon prepared "for the **slaughter**" [[Ezekiel 21:15]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H253}}` is concentrated in its use within prophetic speech.
* **Prophetic Lament:** The word functions as a commanded expression of sorrow. God tells Ezekiel to "say, Alas," making it a reflection of divine grief over the "evil abominations" of His people and the necessary judgment to follow [[Ezekiel 6:11]].
* **Imminence of Judgment:** The exclamation of "**ah**" is not a casual utterance but a response to the immediate and terrifying reality of punishment. It is used when the sword is already "made bright" and prepared for **slaughter** [[Ezekiel 21:15]].
* **Consequence of Sin:** The word is explicitly tied to the "evil abominations of the house of Israel" [[Ezekiel 6:11]]. It serves as an emotional marker that directly connects the people's sin with the devastating consequences of sword `{{H2719}}`, famine `{{H7458}}`, and pestilence `{{H1698}}`.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H253}}` is a rare but powerful exclamation that encapsulates the themes of sorrow and shock in the face of divine judgment. Used exclusively by the prophet Ezekiel in the provided texts, **ʼâch** serves as a verbal gesture of grief and alarm, marking the terrible certainty of punishment for Israel's **evil** `{{H7451}}` and **abominations** `{{H8441}}`. It demonstrates how a single, potent word can convey the profound emotional and theological weight of impending doom.
TRV