The Hebrew word châmar, represented by H2560, is a primitive root with a core meaning of "to boil up." It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses. From its primary sense of boiling or fermenting, it expands to describe a range of intense states, including being troubled, glowing with redness, being befouled, or the literal act of smearing with pitch.
In its biblical usage, H2560 captures both literal actions and deep emotional or physical turmoil. In a literal sense, it describes the preparation of the ark for the infant Moses, which was daubed with slime and pitch to make it waterproof Exodus 2:3. Metaphorically, it conveys intense agitation. The psalmist describes the cup of God's judgment containing wine that is red, suggesting fermentation and potency Psalms 75:8. It is also used to depict the physical manifestation of extreme grief and distress, as in Lamentations where the speaker's "bowels are troubled" (Lamentations 1:20; Lamentations 2:11) or in Job, where his face is foul from weeping Job 16:16.
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H2560 is used:
- H1993 hâmâh (to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, roar): This word often appears alongside H2560 to describe massive upheaval. In Psalms 46:3, the waters roar (hâmâh) and be troubled (châmar), painting a picture of cosmic disturbance.
- H2564 chêmâr (bitumen... slime): As the root for the denominative use of H2560, this word is directly linked to the physical application of materials. In Exodus 2:3, the ark is daubed using slime (chêmâr).
- H6887 tsârar (to cramp... be in distress, vex): This word describes the internal state of affliction that H2560 often expresses physically. The cry, "I am in distress" in Lamentations 1:20, is immediately followed by the physical symptom: "my bowels are troubled."
The conceptual weight of H2560 is found in its powerful depiction of agitation, whether righteous or resulting from sin.
- The Turmoil of Judgment: The word is used to illustrate divine judgment. The red, fermented wine in the Lord's cup symbolizes the potent wrath to be served to the wicked Psalms 75:8. The "troubled" waters in Psalms 46:3 also speak of a creation in commotion.
- The Anguish of Suffering: In Lamentations and Job, H2560 gives a visceral, physical expression to emotional and spiritual pain. The "troubled" bowels are not just a figure of speech but a depiction of how profoundly grief and the consequences of rebellion affect the human body (Lamentations 1:20; Lamentations 2:11).
- An Act of Preservation: In a unique positive application, the action of "daubing" derived from H2560 is what seals and protects the ark of Moses, leading to his salvation from death Exodus 2:3. This shows the concept of "covering" or "smearing" used for deliverance.
In summary, H2560 is a dynamic term that moves from the literal boiling of a substance to the figurative boiling of emotion and the turmoil of nature. It can describe the color of fermented wine in a cup of judgment Psalms 75:8, the physical agony of a soul in distress Lamentations 1:20, and the practical act of sealing an ark for preservation Exodus 2:3. This word powerfully illustrates how Scripture connects abstract concepts like judgment and grief to tangible, physical experiences.
TRV