### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼêybâh**, represented by `{{H342}}`, denotes a deep-seated **hostility**, **emnity**, or **hatred**. It is a potent and specific term, appearing only **5 times** across **5 unique verses** in the Bible. Its rarity highlights the gravity of the contexts in which it is used, describing a fundamental and often enduring opposition.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The first and most significant use of `{{H342}}` is in the Garden of Eden, where God himself establishes **enmity** between the serpent and the woman, and between their respective seeds [[Genesis 3:15]]. The term also appears in legal contexts to define intent; a killing committed "in **enmity**" is considered murder and punishable by death [[Numbers 35:21]], whereas a death caused without **enmity** is not [[Numbers 35:22]]. In the prophets, it describes the long-standing hostility of nations against Israel, such as the Philistines' "old **hatred**" [[Ezekiel 25:15]] and Edom's "perpetual **hatred**" [[Ezekiel 35:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the scope and consequences of **ʼêybâh**:
* `{{H2233}}` **zeraʻ** (seed): This word is used to define the parties in the primary conflict, establishing that the **enmity** will be a generational struggle between the **seed** of the woman and the **seed** of the serpent [[Genesis 3:15]].
* `{{H5358}}` **nâqam** (to avenge or punish): This term describes the action that results from long-standing hatred, as when the Philistines **take vengeance** based on their old enmity [[Ezekiel 25:15]].
* `{{H7523}}` **râtsach** (murderer): This defines the legal status of one who acts with premeditated hostility. One who strikes another in enmity is a **murderer** and is to be put to death [[Numbers 35:21]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H342}}` is established immediately in its first appearance.
* **A Divinely Instituted Conflict:** The term is introduced by God, who will "put **enmity**" between the serpent's seed and the woman's seed. This establishes a foundational, world-defining spiritual conflict that originates with God's judgment [[Genesis 3:15]].
* **The Intent of the Heart:** In the Law, `{{H342}}` is the key determinant in distinguishing murder from accidental death. This places immense importance on the inner disposition of hostility, showing that God's justice considers not only the act but the **enmity** behind it [[Numbers 35:21-22]].
* **Perpetual Hostility and Judgment:** The prophets use `{{H342}}` to describe a "perpetual **hatred**" held by Israel's enemies. This enduring animosity, acted upon in Israel's time of calamity, becomes the basis for God's judgment against those nations [[Ezekiel 35:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H342}}` is a critical term for understanding the nature of conflict in the Bible. It is not a word for simple dislike, but for a profound and decisive hostility. From the cosmic **enmity** decreed in Genesis to the legal distinctions in Numbers and the national judgments in Ezekiel, **ʼêybâh** consistently points to a fundamental opposition that carries severe, and often deadly, consequences.
TRV