from an unused root meaning to take off the shoes; unsandalled; barefoot, being unshod.
Transliteration:yâchêph
Pronunciation:yaw-khafe'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma H3182 (yâchêph) denotes the state of being "barefoot" or "unshod." Derived from an unused root signifying the act of removing footwear, its core meaning is the simple absence of shoes, sandals, or any protective covering for the feet. Beyond this literal description, yâchêph carries a rich semantic range, often implying vulnerability, humility, mourning, distress, or a state of servitude and captivity. It is rarely a neutral descriptive term but typically conveys a significant symbolic or emotional connotation within its biblical contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H3182 appears in a few poignant passages, each highlighting its deeper implications:
* **[[2 Samuel 15:30]]**: "But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and his feet bare. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went." Here, David's act of going yâchêph (barefoot) is inextricably linked with his deep distress, weeping, and covered head, all traditional signs of mourning and humiliation in the ancient Near East. It signifies his profound personal grief and humility before God in the face of Absalom's rebellion, acknowledging his vulnerability and dependence on divine mercy.
* **[[Isaiah 20:2]], [[Isaiah 20:3]], [[Isaiah 20:4]]**: In this prophetic oracle against Egypt and Cush, the Lord commands Isaiah: "Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet." So he did, going naked and yâchêph (barefoot). The Lord then explains the sign: "Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and yâchêph (barefoot) for three years as a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Cush, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and yâchêph (barefoot), with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt." Here, yâchêph is part of a dramatic prophetic action symbolizing the utter humiliation, captivity, and vulnerability that awaits these nations. It underscores their impending defeat and the stripping away of their dignity by the Assyrian empire. The repeated use emphasizes the severity of this impending judgment.
* **[[Jeremiah 2:25]]**: "Keep your feet from being yâchêph (barefoot) and your throat from thirst. But you said, 'It is hopeless! No, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.'" While some textual variants exist (Qere vs. Kethib), the Qere reading of yâchêph here speaks to the futility and exhaustion of Israel's pursuit of idols. It implies a state of spiritual degradation leading to physical weariness and vulnerability, as if their relentless pursuit of foreign gods has left them spiritually "barefoot" and exposed, lacking the protection and sustenance found in God.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of being yâchêph is often understood in contrast to or in conjunction with other significant terms:
* **`{{H5274}}` (na'al)**: Shoe or sandal, the direct opposite of yâchêph. The presence of shoes signifies protection, readiness for travel, or status, whereas their absence implies the contrary.
* **`{{H6174}}` (ʿārōm)**: Naked or stripped. This term is paired with yâchêph in [[Isaiah 20:2-4]], intensifying the imagery of complete vulnerability and humiliation.
* **`{{H2617}}` (ḥāphāh)**: To cover, often referring to the head. In [[2 Samuel 15:30]], David's covered head alongside his yâchêph feet forms a comprehensive picture of mourning and distress.
* **Concepts of Mourning and Humiliation**: Being yâchêph is a recurring motif in ancient Near Eastern mourning rituals and acts of submission. It strips away dignity and signifies a profound state of sorrow or subjugation.
* **Vulnerability and Exposure**: The absence of footwear inherently implies vulnerability to the elements and terrain, symbolizing a lack of protection, security, or self-sufficiency.
### Theological Significance
The theological import of H3182 is multifaceted:
* **Humility and Submission to Divine Will**: David's barefoot ascent in [[2 Samuel 15:30]] is a powerful demonstration of humility and submission before God. In his deepest distress, he sheds the trappings of royalty and status, presenting himself as utterly dependent on divine mercy. It signifies a profound acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, even over personal calamity.
* **Prophetic Warning and Judgment**: In [[Isaiah 20:2-4]], yâchêph serves as a vivid, embodied prophecy. Isaiah's act, and the subsequent fate of Egypt and Cush, illustrate the Lord's power to strip away the pride, security, and alliances of nations. It underscores the consequences of misplaced trust in human power rather than in God, leading to utter humiliation and captivity.
* **Consequences of Spiritual Adultery**: If [[Jeremiah 2:25]] is read as yâchêph, it poignantly reflects the spiritual degradation and exhaustion resulting from Israel's idolatry. Abandoning the true God for foreign deities leaves them spiritually exposed and vulnerable, metaphorically "barefoot" and without the divine protection and provision they once enjoyed.
* **Symbol of Stripped Dignity and Dependence**: Across its occurrences, yâchêph consistently points to a state of being stripped of dignity, protection, and self-sufficiency. It highlights human vulnerability and the ultimate dependence on God, whether in times of suffering, judgment, or spiritual wandering. It serves as a stark reminder that true security and well-being come only from walking in obedience and trust with the Lord.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H3182 (yâchêph), meaning "barefoot" or "unshod," is a profoundly evocative term in the Old Testament. Far from a mere physical description, it consistently conveys states of deep humility, distress, and vulnerability. In [[2 Samuel 15:30]], David's yâchêph journey symbolizes his profound grief and submission to God's sovereign hand during a time of personal and national crisis. In the prophetic sign of [[Isaiah 20:2-4]], Isaiah's naked and yâchêph walk, mirrored by the future fate of Egypt and Cush, powerfully illustrates the humiliation and captivity awaiting nations that rely on human strength rather than divine deliverance. Furthermore, in [[Jeremiah 2:25]] (Qere), it may depict the spiritual exhaustion and exposed state of a people who have abandoned God for idols. Thus, yâchêph functions as a potent theological marker, signifying a stripping away of dignity, a profound dependence on God, and often, the dire consequences of human pride or disobedience in the face of divine judgment.
TRV