### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yâbab**, represented by `{{H2980}}`, is a primitive root that means **to bawl; cry out**. It is a very specific term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** within the entire Bible, making its single instance particularly noteworthy.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The lone appearance of `{{H2980}}` occurs in the Song of Deborah and Barak, a victory hymn in the book of Judges. It is used to describe the reaction of Sisera's mother as she anxiously awaits her son's return from a battle he will not survive. The verse states that she "looked out at a window, and **cried** through the lattice" [[Judges 5:28]]. This cry is an emotional outburst of worry and impatience, underscored by her questioning why his chariot is so delayed.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of this cry is enriched by several related words used in the same verse:
* `{{H517}}` **ʼêm** (mother): This word identifies the one crying out as Sisera's **mother**, grounding the emotional outburst in a maternal bond. It is a foundational term for a female parent, used in commandments like honoring one's father and **mother** [[Exodus 20:12]].
* `{{H822}}` **ʼeshnâb** (lattice): This word specifies that the cry came through a **lattice**, or casement, adding to the imagery of a woman confined and peering out in desperation [[Judges 5:28]].
* `{{H8259}}` **shâqaph** (look out): This root describes the action preceding the cry, where the mother **looked** or leaned out to see. The word can also describe God looking down from heaven [[Psalms 14:2]] or someone else gazing from a window [[1 Chronicles 15:29]].
### Theological Significance
The thematic weight of `{{H2980}}` is derived entirely from its singular, dramatic context.
* **Human Anguish:** The word captures a raw, emotional outcry born from fear and prolonged waiting, illustrating the personal suffering connected to conflict [[Judges 5:28]].
* **The Perspective of the Vanquished:** This cry uniquely gives voice to the anxiety within an enemy's family, showing that maternal concern and distress are universal human experiences.
* **A Cry of Impatience:** The question that follows the cry—"Why is his chariot so long in coming?"—frames `{{H2980}}` not just as a sound of sorrow, but as an expression of desperate impatience that will ultimately be met with silence and loss.
### Summary
In summary, while **yâbab** `{{H2980}}` is extremely limited in its biblical usage, its single appearance is poignant. It is not a cry of joy or worship, but a raw, emotional outburst of a mother's anxiety and distress. The word provides a powerful and specific depiction of human suffering in the face of uncertainty and the consequences of war, forever associated with the waiting mother of Sisera in [[Judges 5:28]].
TRV