### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yâchêph**, represented by `{{H3182}}`, means to be **unsandalled** or **barefoot**. It is derived from an unused root related to taking off shoes. This specific term appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses**, consistently portraying a state of vulnerability, mourning, or shame.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H3182}}` illustrates a physical condition with deep symbolic meaning. It is used to describe David's profound grief and humiliation as he fled Jerusalem, weeping and walking **barefoot** up the Mount of Olives [[2 Samuel 15:30]]. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet is commanded to walk "naked and **barefoot**" as a living sign and wonder, symbolizing the future shame and captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia [[Isaiah 20:3-4]]. The term is also used metaphorically in Jeremiah, where the Lord warns Israel to "Withhold thy foot from being **unshod**," a plea to stop pursuing foreign gods and avoid the resulting desolation [[Jeremiah 2:25]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the state of being barefoot:
* `{{H1980}}` **hâlak** (to walk): This root is used to describe the action accompanying being barefoot. Isaiah is described as **walking** naked and barefoot as a prophetic act [[Isaiah 20:2]].
* `{{H5275}}` **naʻal** (a sandal or slipper): This is the object that is removed to become barefoot. Isaiah is commanded to put off his **shoe** from his foot before walking unshod [[Isaiah 20:2]].
* `{{H6174}}` **ʻârôwm** (naked): This word is frequently paired with `{{H3182}}`, emphasizing a state of total exposure and disgrace, as seen in the description of captives [[Isaiah 20:4]] and in Isaiah's prophetic sign [[Isaiah 20:2]].
* `{{H7272}}` **regel** (a foot): This is the body part from which shoes are removed. Being barefoot directly involves the state of one's **foot**, as seen in Jeremiah's warning to Israel [[Jeremiah 2:25]].
### Theological Significance
The symbolic weight of `{{H3182}}` is significant and multifaceted.
* **Mourning and Humility:** To be barefoot was an outward expression of deep personal sorrow and lowliness. David’s ascent up the Mount of Olives in this state was an act of raw grief and submission during a time of betrayal [[2 Samuel 15:30]].
* **Shame and Captivity:** Being forcibly stripped of footwear was a mark of a captive or a prisoner of war. Isaiah’s walk as one who is **barefoot** served as a prophetic sign of the humiliation that awaited the Egyptians and Ethiopians [[Isaiah 20:4]].
* **Spiritual Destitution:** Metaphorically, being **unshod** represents a state of reckless self-abandonment. Jeremiah uses the image to warn against a spiritual path that leads to ruin and thirst, stripping one of divine protection and provision [[Jeremiah 2:25]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3182}}` is more than a simple description of lacking footwear. It is a powerful biblical symbol representing a range of human experiences, from the depths of personal grief to the shame of national defeat. Whether describing a mourning king, a prophetic sign, or a spiritual warning, being **barefoot** communicates a profound state of vulnerability, humility, and judgment.
TRV