### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yârâq**, represented by `{{H3417}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to spit**. Though it appears only **3 times** in **2 unique verses**, its usage signifies a potent act of contempt or shame. The word is also used idiomatically as **but, spit**, highlighting the intensity of the action.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical contexts, `{{H3417}}` is an action of profound social and legal weight. In the law concerning a man who refuses to continue his brother's lineage, his brother's wife is instructed to perform a public act of reproach: she must **loose** his shoe from his foot and **spit** in his **face** [[Deuteronomy 25:9]]. This formal gesture publicly marks him for his failure. The concept of shame is further illustrated in the LORD's rhetorical question to Moses about Miriam; if her own father had **but spit** in her **face**, she would be shamed for seven days [[Numbers 12:14]], connecting the act directly to disgrace.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from the immediate context help clarify the meaning and gravity of `{{H3417}}`:
* `{{H5066}}` **nâgash** (to be or come near): This word describes the wife's deliberate approach to her brother-in-law [[Deuteronomy 25:9]]. It emphasizes that the act of spitting is not accidental but a direct, confrontational ceremony. The term can also be used for approaching God in worship [[Jeremiah 30:21]] or offering a sacrifice [[Malachi 3:3]].
* `{{H2502}}` **châlats** (to pull off; loose): This is the action of removing the shoe in the same legal ceremony [[Deuteronomy 25:9]], which works in tandem with spitting to complete the shaming ritual. While used here for stripping someone of their standing, it can also mean to **deliver** or strengthen [[Psalms 91:15]].
* `{{H6440}}` **pânîym** (the face): In both instances of `{{H3417}}`, the spitting is directed at the **face** ([[Numbers 12:14]]; [[Deuteronomy 25:9]]). This word denotes the very presence and honor of a person, making the act a direct assault on their identity. The same word is used when seeking God's **face** [[2 Chronicles 7:14]] or sitting **before** the LORD [[2 Samuel 7:18]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3417}}` is centered on the concepts of shame, justice, and divine communication.
* **Symbol of Legal Reproach:** The act of spitting is codified in the law as a legitimate, public expression of contempt for one who fails in their covenantal family duty [[Deuteronomy 25:9]]. It serves as a stark physical symbol of social and legal judgment.
* **Divine Analogy for Shame:** God uses the powerful human example of a father spitting in his daughter's **face** to explain the level of shame Miriam should feel for her actions [[Numbers 12:14]]. This shows how God employs tangible, culturally understood gestures to communicate the severity of sin and its resulting dishonor.
* **Public Accountability:** The act is not done in private but "in the presence of the elders" [[Deuteronomy 25:9]]. This establishes that the shame is not merely a personal matter but a public declaration that affects one's standing within the community.
### Summary
In summary, **yârâq** `{{H3417}}` is a concise but deeply meaningful term. Far from being a simple bodily function, the act of spitting in scripture is a deliberate and weighty symbol of contempt and reproach. It is used within a legal framework to enforce familial duty and as a divine analogy to communicate the profound shame that results from sin. Its impact is magnified by its directness, targeting the **face** `{{H6440}}` to inflict maximum dishonor.
TRV