### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **châshal**, represented by `{{H2826}}`, is a primitive root used to describe being **unsteady, weak, or feeble**. This specific term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. Its singular usage, however, occurs in a context of significant moral and historical weight.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2826}}` is in [[Deuteronomy 25:18]], which recounts an attack on the Israelites. The word is used to identify the victims of this ambush: "even all that were **feeble** behind thee." These individuals were targeted precisely because of their weakened state, as they were also described as "faint and weary." The passage frames this as a cowardly act, committed by an enemy who "feared not God," making the term **feeble** central to defining both the vulnerability of the victims and the wickedness of the aggressor.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of `{{H2826}}` is clarified by several words used alongside it in [[Deuteronomy 25:18]]:
* `{{H2179}}` **zânab** (smite the hindmost): This verb, meaning to curtail or cut off the rear, describes the specific action taken against the weak. It illustrates a predatory attack focused on the vulnerable stragglers at the back of the group ([[Deuteronomy 25:18]], [[Joshua 10:19]]).
* `{{H5889}}` **ʻâyêph** (faint, thirsty, weary): This adjective describes the exhausted state of those who were **feeble**. It paints a picture of a people made languid and vulnerable by hardship, a condition referenced in other passages describing physical distress [[Isaiah 32:2]].
* `{{H3023}}` **yâgêaʻ** (weary, full of labour): Paired with faint, this term emphasizes that the people were tired from immense effort. This word reinforces that their feebleness was a result of physical exhaustion and not a moral failing [[2 Samuel 17:2]].
### Theological Significance
Despite its single use, the theological weight of `{{H2826}}` is significant and focused.
* **The Morality of Strength:** The term highlights a stark moral contrast. The state of being **feeble** is one of circumstantial vulnerability. The narrative places the sin not on the weak, but squarely on the one who exploits that weakness for gain.
* **A Measure of Godliness:** The attack on the **feeble** is explicitly linked to a lack of reverence for God. The verse concludes, "and he feared not God" [[Deuteronomy 25:18]], establishing a powerful principle: how one treats the weak and defenseless is a direct measure of one's fear of God.
* **Divine Concern for the Vulnerable:** By commanding the Israelites to remember this specific event, the text underscores God's identification with and concern for the helpless. The attack on the **feeble** is not just an act of war but a spiritual offense that God himself takes note of.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2826}}` is a highly specific term whose meaning is amplified by its context. While it simply means **feeble**, its singular appearance in [[Deuteronomy 25:18]] transforms it into a word of profound moral significance. It defines a state of vulnerability that, when exploited, represents a direct and contemptible act of defiance against God, who watches over the weak.
TRV