### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼâchûw**, represented by `{{H260}}`, refers to a **bulrush or any marshy grass**, especially the kind found along the Nile. It is of uncertain, possibly Egyptian, derivation and is translated as "flag" or "meadow." It appears only **3 times** in **3 unique verses**, making its usage specific and context-dependent, typically associated with fertile, water-logged environments.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical occurrences, `{{H260}}` is tied directly to water and sustenance. In Pharaoh's dream, seven healthy, "fatfleshed" kine come up from the river and begin to feed in a **meadow** ([[Genesis 41:2]], [[Genesis 41:18]]). Here, the meadow represents a place of rich pasture and prosperity. The word is also used in the book of Job in a rhetorical question to illustrate a fundamental truth: "can the **flag** grow without water?" [[Job 8:11]]. This highlights the plant's absolute dependence on a water source for its existence.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the environment and context of `{{H260}}`:
* `{{H1573}}` **gômeʼ** (rush): Used in parallel with **flag** in Job's question, this word also refers to an absorbent marsh plant like the papyrus or bulrush [[Job 8:11]].
* `{{H1207}}` **bitstsâh** (mire): This term describes the swampy ground or fen necessary for plants like the rush and flag to grow, emphasizing the specific type of habitat [[Job 8:11]].
* `{{H4325}}` **mayim** (water): The essential element without which the **flag** cannot grow, forming the basis of the argument in [[Job 8:11]]. It is the fundamental source of life for such vegetation.
* `{{H2975}}` **yᵉʼôr** (river): This word, often referring specifically to the Nile, is the source from which the healthy kine emerge to feed in the **meadow** in Genesis, connecting `{{H260}}` to the great rivers that create such fertile lands [[Genesis 41:18]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H260}}` is primarily illustrative, using the natural world to teach broader principles.
* **Symbol of Prosperity:** In Pharaoh's dream, the **meadow** is the location of grazing for the "well favoured" `{{H3303}}` kine, making it a clear symbol of life, health, and abundance [[Genesis 41:2]].
* **Illustration of Dependence:** The use of the **flag** in [[Job 8:11]] serves as an undeniable natural law—no water, no life. This provides a tangible metaphor for the principle that all life, including spiritual life, requires a source to thrive.
* **Environmental Grounding:** The word's connection to the Nile `{{H2975}}` and marshy ground firmly roots the biblical narratives in a real-world setting where life and prosperity were visibly tied to the provision of water.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H260}}` is a specific botanical term that, while used infrequently, carries significant illustrative weight. It functions as a powerful symbol of sustenance and abundance in the context of Pharaoh's dream and as a metaphor for absolute dependence on a life source in the wisdom of Job. It demonstrates how a simple element of the natural landscape can be used to convey profound truths about life and its necessary conditions.
TRV