### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kirçêm**, represented by `{{H3765}}`, means **to lay waste** or **waste**. Derived from the root כָּסַם, its meaning is one of ruin and destruction. It is an exceedingly rare term, appearing just **1 time** in the entire Bible, which makes its single appearance in scripture particularly significant for understanding its specific application.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its sole biblical use, `{{H3765}}` is found in a psalm of lament. The psalmist describes the plight of Israel, which is allegorically portrayed as a vine brought out of Egypt. This vine is now being destroyed, and the word is used to illustrate this devastation vividly. In [[Psalms 80:13]], a **boar** from the wood is said to **waste** it, painting a picture of a cherished and cultivated plant being ravaged by an untamed, destructive force.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H3765}}` is illuminated by the words used alongside it in its only context:
* `{{H2386}}` **chăzîyr**: This word for **boar** or **swine** identifies the agent performing the action of wasting. Throughout scripture, the swine is designated as an unclean animal ([[Leviticus 11:7]], [[Deuteronomy 14:8]]) and is associated with abominable practices [[Isaiah 66:17]].
* `{{H7462}}` **râʻâh**: Used in parallel with "waste" in [[Psalms 80:13]] to mean **devour**, this word has a strikingly dual meaning. While it can signify destructive consumption, it is also the primary root for "to tend a flock" or to act as a **shepherd** ([[Psalms 23:1]], [[Jeremiah 3:15]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3765}}` is derived entirely from its powerful imagery within [[Psalms 80:13]].
* **Symbol of Covenantal Ruin:** The act of "wasting" is a metaphor for the destruction of the nation of Israel, God's chosen vine. It represents a state of abandonment where protective hedges are broken down, leaving the people vulnerable.
* **Unclean Agents of Judgment:** The use of a **boar** `{{H2386}}`—an unclean animal—to perform the wasting suggests that the forces bringing about this destruction are impure and hostile to God's sacred covenant.
* **Inversion of Divine Care:** The verb "devour" `{{H7462}}` appears alongside "waste," creating a sharp contrast with its alternative meaning, "to shepherd." This verbal pairing emphasizes a complete reversal: the people are no longer being fed and protected by their Shepherd [[Psalms 23:1]] but are instead being devoured and laid waste.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3765}}` is a singular but potent term for utter devastation. Its exclusive appearance in [[Psalms 80:13]] locks its meaning into the tragic imagery of a vineyard being ravaged. Paired with the unclean boar and a verb that inverts the concept of pastoral care, **kirçêm** does more than describe a physical act; it encapsulates the profound theological concept of a people experiencing desolation after having fallen from divine protection.
TRV