### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ṭûws**, represented by `{{H2907}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to pounce as a bird of prey; haste**. This rare term appears only **1 time** in the entire Bible, located in **1 unique verse**, making its single usage highly specific and illustrative.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2907}}` is in [[Job 9:26]], where Job laments the swiftness of his life. The verse uses a pair of similes to describe how quickly his days are passing: "They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that **hasteth** to the prey." Here, `{{H2907}}` is translated as "hasteth," vividly portraying a sudden, rapid, and focused dive, capturing a sense of unstoppable speed and predatory finality.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of `{{H2907}}` in [[Job 9:26]] connects it to several other significant words:
* `{{H5404}}` **nesher** (the eagle): This word refers to the eagle or another large bird of prey. The eagle is frequently used as a symbol of speed and power, as when God describes bearing Israel on "eagles' wings" [[Exodus 19:4]] or when the LORD promises that those who wait upon Him will "mount up with wings as eagles" [[Isaiah 40:31]].
* `{{H400}}` **ʼôkel** (prey): Defined as food or prey, this word highlights the object of the eagle's haste. While often used for general food or a meal [[Psalms 145:15]], in this context, it specifies the target of a predatory attack, emphasizing the eagle's deadly intent.
* `{{H2498}}` **châlaph** (to hasten away, pass on): In [[Job 9:26]], this word is translated as "passed away," establishing the theme of fleeting time. It also carries the meaning of renewal or change, as seen when Joseph changed his raiment [[Genesis 41:14]] or when believers shall "renew their strength" [[Isaiah 40:31]].
### Theological Significance
The conceptual significance of `{{H2907}}` is derived entirely from its powerful imagery in Job's lament.
* **The Brevity of Life:** The primary theme is the fleeting nature of human existence. The image of an eagle pouncing on its prey powerfully illustrates how quickly life passes by, seemingly in an instant.
* **Sudden and Unstoppable Motion:** The word implies a sudden, irreversible dive. This communicates the idea that time's passage is not a gentle fading but a rapid, forceful, and uncontrollable movement toward an end.
* **A Sense of Helplessness:** By comparing his life to prey being hunted by a hasting eagle, Job expresses a profound sense of helplessness in the face of his suffering and the swift march of time.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H2907}}` is one of the rarest words in the biblical lexicon, its single use offers a potent and memorable metaphor. It encapsulates the concepts of speed, suddenness, and finality. Within the book of Job, it serves as a sharp and vivid illustration of the brevity of life, comparing the passing of days to the unstoppable pounce of an eagle on its prey.
TRV