### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **châthar**, represented by `{{H2864}}`, is a primitive root that means **to force a passage**. It appears 8 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. Its primary application is the physical act of digging, but it also extends figuratively to describe the intense effort of rowing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2864}}` is used to illustrate a forceful breach of barriers. It is repeatedly used in the book of Ezekiel to describe the prophet's symbolic act of breaking through a wall, as commanded by God: "dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door" [[Ezekiel 8:8]]. The term is also associated with wrongdoing, as in the case of those who "dig through houses" in the dark [[Job 24:16]]. Figuratively, it describes the futile human effort to escape divine judgment [[Amos 9:2]] and the desperate struggle of sailors rowing against a storm [[Jonah 1:13]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the action of forcing a passage:
* `{{H7023}}` **qîyr** (a wall (as built in a trench)): This is the object that is frequently being dug through. The relationship is one of action and reception, where **châthar** is the force applied to the **qîyr**, as seen in Ezekiel’s prophetic sign [[Ezekiel 12:5]].
* `{{H3318}}` **yâtsâʼ** (a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out): This word often describes the result of digging. The purpose of forcing a passage `{{H2864}}` is to "carry out" `{{H3318}}` something or someone, linking the effort to its intended outcome [[Ezekiel 12:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2864}}` is significant, highlighting themes of human effort and divine sovereignty.
* **Futility of Human Escape:** The word is used to show the impossibility of hiding from God. Whether digging into hell [[Amos 9:2]] or rowing against a God-sent storm [[Jonah 1:13]], human efforts to force a path contrary to the divine will are shown to be in vain.
* **Symbol of Transgression:** The act of "digging through" is explicitly connected to the wicked who operate in darkness, avoiding the light. This makes the word a physical metaphor for sinful intrusion and secrecy [[Job 24:16]].
* **Prophetic Communication:** In Ezekiel, digging through a wall is not a transgression but a divine command. It serves as a living parable to Israel, demonstrating the coming exile and the breaching of Jerusalem's defenses [[Ezekiel 12:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2864}}` is more than a simple verb for digging. It conveys a powerful sense of forceful effort against an obstacle, whether a physical wall, the sea, or a divine boundary. It illustrates the futility of fighting against God's judgment, the nature of sin as a breach of order, and the use of dramatic physical acts to convey a prophetic message.
TRV