The Hebrew word ṭippuch, represented by H2949, refers to something being a span long or connected to nursing. It is a very rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, making its single usage particularly poignant and specific.
The sole appearance of H2949 is found in a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem. In a desperate plea, the prophet asks, "Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long?" Lamentations 2:20. Here, the term is used to emphasize the extreme youth, size, and helplessness of the infant victims of a famine so severe that it led to cannibalism. It paints a visceral picture of the horrific consequences of the city's fall.
Several related words from its context illuminate the scene's tragic nature:
- H398 ʼâkal (to eat): Defined as a primitive root meaning to eat, consume, or devour. While it can be used for joyful feasting Nehemiah 8:10, in Lamentations 2:20 it describes a horrific act of survival.
- H5768 ʻôwlêl (babe, (young) child, infant, little one): This word for young children is often found in contexts of extreme vulnerability, such as infants fainting from hunger in the streets Lamentations 2:19 or being targeted in judgment Hosea 13:16.
- H6529 pᵉrîy (fruit): This word can refer to the literal fruit of a tree Genesis 3:6 or, figuratively, to the consequences of one's actions Proverbs 18:21. In Lamentations 2:20, it is used metaphorically to describe children, making their consumption by their own mothers a devastating perversion of life.
The theological weight of H2949 is derived entirely from its harrowing context in Lamentations.
- The Depth of Suffering: The term graphically illustrates the depths of human suffering and desperation under divine judgment. The description of infants as merely a "span long" removes any abstraction and confronts the reader with the raw reality of the tragedy.
- Inversion of Natural Order: The concept of "nursing," which is part of the word's root meaning, is grotesquely inverted. A mother's role as a life-giver and nurturer is destroyed, as she is driven to consume her own "fruit" H6529.
- Symbol of Innocence Lost: The "children of a span long" represent the most innocent and defenseless in the society, and their fate demonstrates the totality of the catastrophe and the severity of the people's transgressions that led to it.
In summary, H2949 is a term whose profound impact comes from its singular, shocking use. While it simply means "span long," its placement in Lamentations 2:20 transforms it into a powerful symbol of ultimate suffering, innocence destroyed, and the horrifying consequences of judgment. It stands as a stark reminder of the breakdown of the natural and moral order in the face of overwhelming catastrophe.
TRV