The Hebrew word ṭâchâh, represented by H2909, is a primitive root meaning to stretch a bow, as an archer, and is used to denote a (bow-) shot. This highly specific term appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, where it serves as a measure of distance.
In the biblical narrative, H2909 is used to illustrate a moment of profound maternal anguish. In Genesis 21:16, after being cast out, Hagar places her son Ishmael under a shrub and moves "a good way off, as it were a bowshot" Genesis 21:16. This distance was chosen because she could not bear to watch the child die. The term vividly establishes a physical separation born directly from emotional desperation.
Several related words from this passage illuminate the context of desperation and separation:
- H7368 râchaq (to widen... remove... far): This word, used in Genesis 21:16 to describe Hagar moving "a good way off," emphasizes the theme of distance. It is also used to describe God removing transgressions from his people Psalms 103:12.
- H4194 mâveth (death): This is the reality Hagar is trying to escape by creating the distance of a bowshot, as she says, "Let me not see the death of the child" Genesis 21:16. The word is central to understanding the stakes of her situation.
- H3206 yeled (something born, i.e. a lad or offspring): This identifies the focus of Hagar's sorrow, her child. The word is used throughout scripture to refer to children in various contexts, from the promise of a child born to us Isaiah 9:6 to the children of whoredoms Hosea 1:2.
- H1058 bâkâh (to weep; generally to bemoan): After creating this distance, Hagar "lift up her voice, and wept" Genesis 21:16. This word captures the emotional release that follows her act of separation, a theme found in moments of mourning and supplication Joel 2:17.
The significance of H2909 is found entirely within its singular, powerful context:
- A Measure of Grief: A "bowshot" is not merely a unit of length but becomes a measurement of a mother's anguish. It is the precise distance she needed to preserve her sanity in the face of her child's impending death.
- The Boundary of Endurance: The distance marks a physical boundary that corresponds to an emotional one. Hagar moves just far enough away that she does not have to see the tragedy, establishing a limit to what she can bear.
- Tangible Separation: The word provides a tangible and relatable image for an intangible feeling. By using the familiar length of an archer's shot, the text makes Hagar's desperate act of separation vivid and understandable.
In summary, H2909 is a rare term whose meaning is defined by its sole appearance in scripture. While its base definition is a practical one—the distance of a bowshot—its application in Genesis 21:16 transforms it into a powerful symbol. It illustrates how a specific, concrete measure can be used to convey the depth of human suffering, marking the painful distance between a mother and her dying child.
TRV