a primitive root; apparently; to brush aside; sweep away.
Transliteration:yâʻâh
Pronunciation:yaw-aw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H3261}}` (יָעָה, yâʻâh) is identified as a primitive root, suggesting a foundational and uncompounded meaning. Its core semantic range encompasses the actions of "to brush aside" and "to sweep away." This implies a forceful, decisive, and often thorough removal or elimination of something. The nuance suggests not merely displacement, but a clearing or eradication, often with a sense of finality. The action is one of active and complete dislodgment, akin to removing debris or an unwanted presence with a sweeping motion.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb `{{H3261}}` (יָעָה) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, making its contextual analysis exceptionally significant for understanding its meaning and theological weight.
* **[[Isaiah 28:17]]**: "I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away (וְיָעָה) your refuge of lies, and water will overflow your hiding place."
* In this sole occurrence, `{{H3261}}` appears in the Qal imperfect form, וְיָעָה (vəyāʿâ), meaning "it will sweep away."
* The subject of the verb is "hail" (בָּרָד, bārād), which is depicted as an instrument of divine judgment.
* The object being "swept away" is "your refuge of lies" (מַחְסֵה כָזָב, maḥsēh kāzāv). This refers to the false security and deceptive alliances upon which the leaders of Ephraim (and by extension, Judah) had relied, rather than trusting in the Lord. These "lies" represent their covenant with death and agreement with Sheol ([[Isaiah 28:15]]), which they believed would protect them from divine wrath.
* The immediate context of [[Isaiah 28:17]] is a prophecy concerning God's judgment against the proud and drunken rulers who scorned His warnings. The Lord declares His intention to lay a sure foundation stone in Zion, but also promises to dismantle the false foundations of His rebellious people.
* The imagery of hail "sweeping away" is powerful. Hail is a natural force, often associated with divine judgment in the Old Testament (e.g., the seventh plague in Egypt, [[Exodus 9:23-26]]; God fighting for Israel, [[Joshua 10:11]]). Here, it symbolizes a thorough and devastating act of God's intervention that will utterly destroy their illusory protection.
* The parallel phrase, "and water will overflow your hiding place," reinforces the idea of complete inundation and inescapable destruction, leaving no escape or shelter for those who trusted in falsehood.
* Thus, in its singular biblical appearance, `{{H3261}}` is intrinsically linked to divine judgment, signifying the forceful and complete removal of human deception and false security by an act of God.
### Related Words & Concepts
Given the unique occurrence of `{{H3261}}`, direct lexical cognates with identical meaning are rare. However, its conceptual domain intersects with several important themes and related verbs in the Hebrew Bible:
* **Destruction and Overthrow:** Concepts related to the demolition or eradication of structures, systems, or people.
* `{{H2040}}` (hāras): "to tear down," "to destroy" (e.g., walls, altars).
* `{{H2000}}` (hāpak): "to overthrow," "to overturn" (e.g., cities like Sodom and Gomorrah).
* **Washing Away and Flooding:** The parallel imagery in [[Isaiah 28:17]] itself points to this conceptual link.
* `{{H7857}}` (shâṭaph): "to overflow," "to wash away," "to inundate" (used for floods, or overwhelming armies). This word is a direct parallel in the same verse, reinforcing the idea of a complete removal by overwhelming force.
* `{{H5493}}` (sâḥâh): "to cleanse," "to purge," often implying removal of impurity or sin. While `{{H3261}}` is destructive, it shares the outcome of removal.
* **Divine Judgment:** The act described by `{{H3261}}` is an instrument of God's judgment, a pervasive theme throughout the prophetic literature.
* `{{H6485}}` (pâqad): "to visit," often in the sense of visiting with punishment.
* `{{H8199}}` (shâphaṭ): "to judge," "to execute judgment."
### Theological Significance
The singular, powerful use of `{{H3261}}` in [[Isaiah 28:17]] imbues it with profound theological significance:
* **Divine Sovereignty in Judgment:** The verb underscores God's active and direct involvement in judgment. The "hail" is not a random force of nature but an instrument in the hand of the Almighty, demonstrating His absolute control over creation and history. God Himself "will sweep away" the false refuges, indicating His deliberate and effective action against rebellion.
* **The Futility of False Security:** The "refuge of lies" represents any human attempt to find security, peace, or deliverance apart from God. This includes reliance on deceptive political alliances, self-righteousness, or any form of idolatry. `{{H3261}}` vividly portrays the utter fragility and ultimate destruction of such false foundations when confronted by divine truth and justice. There is no enduring protection outside of God's covenant faithfulness.
* **Justice as a Standard:** The context of [[Isaiah 28:17]] is God's declaration that He will make "justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line." The "sweeping away" of lies is therefore a necessary act of divine purification. It is not arbitrary destruction, but a just consequence for those who reject God's righteous standards and build upon deceit. This judgment clears the way for the establishment of God's true and righteous order.
* **The Inescapability of God's Wrath:** The imagery of hail and overflowing water suggests a comprehensive and inescapable judgment. No human scheme or hiding place can withstand the force of God's purifying wrath when He acts decisively to remove all that opposes His holiness.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H3261}}` (יָעָה, yâʻâh), meaning "to brush aside" or "to sweep away," is a rare but exceptionally potent verb, appearing only once in the Masoretic Text in [[Isaiah 28:17]]. In this pivotal passage, it describes the divine judgment by which "hail will sweep away your refuge of lies." This singular occurrence imbues `{{H3261}}` with a profound theological weight, signifying God's active, forceful, and complete removal of human deception and false security. Theologically, it highlights God's absolute sovereignty in judgment, the utter futility of trusting in anything other than Him, and the necessary purging of falsehood as a prelude to the establishment of His perfect justice and righteousness. The word serves as a stark reminder of the inescapable and destructive efficacy of God's holy wrath against all forms of rebellion and unrighteousness.
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