### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ṭiphçar**, represented by `{{H2951}}`, is of foreign derivation and refers to a **military governor** or **captain**. It appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, making it a highly specific term used within prophetic military contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word's usage is confined to prophecies of judgment against powerful nations. In Jeremiah, God commands nations to prepare for war against Babylon, instructing them to "appoint a **captain** against her" as part of a massive army likened to a swarm of "rough caterpillers" [[Jeremiah 51:27]]. In this context, the captain is an agent of divinely orchestrated destruction. In Nahum's prophecy against Nineveh, the city's **captains** are compared to "great grasshoppers" that camp in hedges on a cold day but flee when the sun rises [[Nahum 3:17]], illustrating the temporary and unreliable nature of their military leadership in the face of judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the role and context of the **ṭiphçar**:
* `{{H6485}}` **pâqad** (to visit, oversee, appoint): This is the action verb used to "appoint" the captain in Jeremiah's prophecy. It signifies a charge or commission given, highlighting that the captain's authority is designated for a specific purpose [[Jeremiah 51:27]].
* `{{H1462}}` **gôwb** (grasshopper, great): In Nahum, the captains are compared to "great grasshoppers," emphasizing their vast numbers yet fleeting presence. This imagery serves to diminish the perceived strength of Nineveh's military command [[Nahum 3:17]].
* `{{H4467}}` **mamlâkâh** (kingdom, reign, royal): The appointment of a captain in Jeremiah is part of a larger mobilization involving multiple kingdoms called together to act against Babylon, placing the captain's role within a grand-scale military and political conflict [[Jeremiah 51:27]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2951}}` is seen in its specific prophetic applications:
* **Instrument of Divine Judgment:** The captain is not an independent actor but is appointed as part of God's plan to bring judgment upon a nation. This is clear when God commands the kingdoms to "appoint a **captain**" against Babylon [[Jeremiah 51:27]].
* **Transience of Human Power:** The comparison of Nineveh's captains to grasshoppers that flee illustrates the ultimate futility and impermanence of human military might when confronted by divine will. Their power is conditional and temporary [[Nahum 3:17]].
* **Mobilization for War:** Both uses of **ṭiphçar** occur within calls to war, associated with blowing the trumpet, raising a standard, and gathering nations for battle, framing the captain's role squarely within the context of military conquest.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2951}}` **ṭiphçar** is a rare term for a military leader used exclusively in prophetic literature. Though it denotes a position of authority, its scriptural usage powerfully contrasts the appointed agent of God's judgment with the fleeting and unreliable nature of purely human power. The word serves as a reminder that earthly captains and kingdoms are ultimately subject to divine command and purpose.
TRV