a primitive root; properly, to wrap; hence, to depart (i.e. turn about); go about, withdraw self.
Transliteration:châmaq
Pronunciation:khaw-mak'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb H2559 (חָמַק, *châmaq*) is a primitive root, whose core meaning is "to wrap" or "to coil." From this foundational sense, its semantic range extends to denote movement characterized by turning, winding, or slipping away. This development is intuitive: an object that wraps or coils around another often involves a turning motion, which can then imply a departure or evasion. Thus, châmaq conveys the idea of "turning about," "departing," "going about," or "withdrawing oneself." The nuance often includes a sense of elusiveness, a movement that is not direct but rather circuitous or subtle, making it difficult to perceive or trace. It speaks to a kind of ungraspable motion, whether physical or metaphorical.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb H2559 appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, but its limited occurrences are highly significant, each illuminating a distinct facet of its semantic range.
* **[[Proverbs 30:19]]**: "The way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin." Here, châmaq describes "the way of a serpent on a rock." The serpent's movement is characterized by its winding, gliding motion that leaves no discernible trace. It is a movement that is both intricate and elusive, a marvel precisely because its path is mysterious and ungraspable. The use of châmaq emphasizes the serpent's ability to navigate a rough surface smoothly and without leaving a mark, highlighting the unsearchable nature of certain phenomena that defy human comprehension or tracking.
* **[[Job 9:11]]**: "Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I perceive him not." In this profound declaration by Job, châmaq is used to describe God's movement: "he moves on" or "he withdraws." The context is Job's struggle to understand God's justice and presence amidst suffering. Despite God's active presence, Job finds Him elusive and unperceivable. The verb châmaq here powerfully conveys God's transcendence and His ability to act and move in ways that are beyond human perception or comprehension. It is not that God is absent, but that His "passing by" is so subtle or majestic that Job cannot discern it, underscoring the vast chasm between divine and human understanding.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H2559 connects it to words describing movement, particularly those with a nuanced sense of turning, eluding, or imperceptibility.
* Words denoting general movement, such as `{{H1980}}` (*halak*, "to walk" or "to go") or `{{H5674}}` (*abar*, "to pass over" or "to pass through"), share a commonality of motion but lack the specific nuance of winding or elusiveness inherent in châmaq.
* Words related to "turning" or "twisting," such as `{{H3807}}` (*laphath*, "to twist" or "to writhe") or `{{H6123}}` (*aqalqal*, "crooked" or "tortuous"), capture the "wrapping" aspect of châmaq but not necessarily the "departing" or "withdrawing" sense.
* The unique contribution of châmaq lies in its synthesis of these ideas: a movement that is characterized by turning or coiling, leading to an elusive or unperceived departure. It shares conceptual space with the idea of something being "hidden" or "inscrutable," though it focuses on the *manner* of movement rather than a static state.
### Theological Significance
The rare but potent occurrences of H2559 carry significant theological weight, particularly in their portrayal of divine action and the limits of human understanding.
* **Divine Transcendence and Inscrutability**: In [[Job 9:11]], châmaq profoundly underscores God's transcendence. God "moves on" or "withdraws" in a manner imperceptible to Job, highlighting the divine mystery and the inability of human beings to fully grasp or control God's ways. This is not divine indifference, but rather a testament to God's sovereignty and His operations in ways that defy human detection or explanation. It reinforces the theme of God's hiddenness, even in His active presence, inviting a posture of humility and faith rather than exhaustive comprehension.
* **The Wonders of Creation and Wisdom**: The usage in [[Proverbs 30:19]] places châmaq within the realm of wisdom literature's contemplation of the unsearchable wonders of creation. The "way of a serpent on a rock" is a metaphor for phenomena that are marvelous precisely because they are mysterious and leave no trace. Theologically, this can point to the intricate and often hidden ways in which God's creation operates, inviting awe and wonder at the wisdom embedded within the natural world, much of which remains beyond full human analysis. It also subtly hints at the limits of human wisdom in fully comprehending all of God's works.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb H2559 (*châmaq*) fundamentally means "to wrap" or "to coil," evolving semantically to describe a movement that is characterized by turning, winding, or slipping away, often with a connotation of elusiveness or imperceptibility. Though appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible, its occurrences are profoundly illustrative. In [[Proverbs 30:19]], it depicts the ungraspable and mysterious movement of a serpent on a rock, a testament to the wonders that defy human comprehension. More significantly, in [[Job 9:11]], châmaq describes God's movement as "passing by" or "moving on" in a way that is unperceived by Job, powerfully conveying divine transcendence, inscrutability, and the limits of human perception in discerning God's presence and actions. Thus, châmaq contributes to biblical theology by highlighting the mysterious and often subtle nature of divine operation and the vastness of creation's wonders.
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