### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **châmaq**, represented by `{{H2559}}`, is a primitive root that means to **depart** or **withdraw self**. Its core meaning is to wrap or turn about. It appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, but each instance provides a distinct and poignant picture of departure. The term captures the essence of turning away, whether in a personal relationship or in a spiritual context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical occurrences, `{{H2559}}` illustrates two different kinds of separation. In the Song of Solomon, it describes a deeply personal and emotional departure: "my beloved had **withdrawn** himself, and was gone" [[Song of Solomon 5:6]]. This use highlights a sudden absence that leads to a desperate search. In contrast, Jeremiah uses the word to characterize spiritual unfaithfulness: "How long wilt thou **go about**, O thou backsliding daughter?" [[Jeremiah 31:22]]. Here, the term suggests a restless wandering and an aimless turning away from a stable relationship with God.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context and consequences of the actions described by **châmaq**:
* `{{H7728}}` **shôwbêb** (backsliding): Defined as apostate, this term appears alongside `{{H2559}}` in [[Jeremiah 31:22]] to describe the spiritual state of the daughter who is "going about." It specifies that her wandering is an act of turning away from faith.
* `{{H5674}}` **ʻâbar** (to cross over; pass): This word is paired with `{{H2559}}` in [[Song of Solomon 5:6]], stating the beloved had "withdrawn himself, and was **gone**." It emphasizes the finality of the transition, as when the LORD "passed by" before proclaiming His name [[Exodus 34:6]].
* `{{H3318}}` **yâtsâʼ** (to go out): In [[Song of Solomon 5:6]], the consequence of the beloved's withdrawal is that the speaker's "soul **failed**," a figurative use of this word. This shows that the departure described by `{{H2559}}` can cause a profound inner reaction, akin to life or spirit "going out."
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2559}}` is concentrated in the themes of separation and fidelity.
* **Relational Departure:** The word powerfully illustrates the pain of personal separation. In [[Song of Solomon 5:6]], the withdrawal of the beloved creates a crisis, demonstrating the importance of presence and the distress caused by absence in a covenant relationship.
* **Spiritual Apostasy:** In Jeremiah, "going about" is not neutral movement but a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness. It is linked directly with being a "**backsliding**{H7728} daughter" [[Jeremiah 31:22]], framing the departure as a turning away from God.
* **The Consequence of Absence:** The act of withdrawing has a direct impact. The speaker's soul "failed{H3318}" when her beloved was gone [[Song of Solomon 5:6]], illustrating that turning away from a relationship, whether human or divine, causes harm and distress to the one left behind.
### Summary
In summary, though rare, `{{H2559}}` **châmaq** is a significant term for understanding the biblical concept of departure. It conveys both the intimate pain of a beloved’s withdrawal and the broader theological problem of spiritual wandering. In its two appearances, it paints a vivid picture of the relational and spiritual consequences that occur when one turns away.
TRV