### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ṭâbaʻ**, represented by `{{H2883}}`, is a primitive root with the core meaning **to sink**. Its definitions include to drown, fasten, and settle. It appears **10 times** in **10 unique verses**, indicating a specific but impactful usage in scripture to describe both literal and figurative acts of sinking or being firmly set.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H2883}}` is used to illustrate a range of experiences, from physical peril to divine judgment and creative power. It describes the drowning of Pharaoh's chosen captains in the Red Sea [[Exodus 15:4]] and the psalmist's feeling of being overwhelmed, sinking in deep mire and waters [[Psalms 69:2]]. A vivid physical account is found in the story of Jeremiah, who was let down into a dungeon with no water, and "sunk in the mire" [[Jeremiah 38:6]]. Metaphorically, it depicts the consequence of evil, as the heathen are "sunk down in the pit that they made" [[Psalms 9:15]]. In a completely different context, it conveys stability, used to describe the foundations of the earth being fastened [[Job 38:6]] and mountains being settled before creation [[Proverbs 8:25]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the contexts in which something sinks:
* `{{H2916}}` **ṭîyṭ** (mud or clay; figuratively, calamity): This word is frequently paired with `{{H2883}}` to describe a hopeless situation, such as when Jeremiah sunk into the mire `{{H2916}}` of a dungeon [[Jeremiah 38:6]] or when the psalmist pleads for deliverance from it [[Psalms 69:14]].
* `{{H7845}}` **shachath** (a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction): This term is used for the trap into which the wicked fall. The heathen are said to have sunk down `{{H2883}}` in the very pit `{{H7845}}` they prepared as a snare for others [[Psalms 9:15]].
* `{{H4615}}` **maʻămâq** (a deep; deep, depth): This word highlights the overwhelming nature of the situations described by `{{H2883}}`. The psalmist cries out that he has come into deep `{{H4615}}` waters `{{H4325}}` after sinking `{{H2883}}` [[Psalms 69:2]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2883}}` is seen in its application to divine acts and human conditions:
* **Helplessness and Despair:** The image of sinking into mire or deep waters portrays a state of utter desperation and inability to escape. This is seen in the cries of the psalmist [[Psalms 69:2]] and the plight of Jeremiah in the dungeon [[Jeremiah 38:6]], illustrating situations where deliverance can only come from God.
* **Divine Judgment:** The word is used to execute divine retribution. God causes Pharaoh's army to be drowned `{{H2883}}` [[Exodus 15:4]], and the heathen nations sink `{{H2883}}` into the pit of their own making as a consequence of their actions [[Psalms 9:15]]. The gates of a desolate city are also described as having sunk `{{H2883}}` into the ground as a sign of judgment [[Lamentations 2:9]].
* **Creative Power and Stability:** In contrast to themes of peril and judgment, `{{H2883}}` is also used to describe God's foundational work in creation. The earth's foundations are fastened `{{H2883}}` [[Job 38:6]] and the mountains are settled `{{H2883}}` [[Proverbs 8:25]], using the concept of "sinking" to establish permanence and order.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2883}}` **ṭâbaʻ** carries a powerful dual meaning. It vividly portrays scenes of danger, judgment, and despair—from drowning in the sea to sinking in mire or a hidden pit. At the same time, it is used to express the opposite: the unshakable stability of God's creation, with mountains and foundations being firmly settled. The word therefore captures a theological spectrum, from the depths of human peril and divine judgment to the heights of God's sovereign power to establish and create.
TRV