### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H3874}}` (lûwṭ) is a primitive verbal root, indicating a fundamental action. Its core meaning revolves around the concept of "wrapping up," "enveloping," or "covering completely." The associated definitions, "cast" and "wrap," further emphasize an action that results in something being enclosed or obscured. This can imply an act of concealment, protection, or the preparation of an object or person by enveloping them. The nuance often suggests a deliberate and thorough act of covering.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of `{{H3874}}` in the Hebrew Bible are limited, yet each instance carries significant contextual weight.
1. **[[2 Samuel 19:4]] (Hebrew 19:5):** "And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, 'My son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!'"
* Here, the Hiphil form of `{{H3874}}`, וַיָּלֶט (wayyāleṭ), is employed, meaning "he caused to be wrapped up" or "he covered." The context is David's overwhelming grief upon hearing of Absalom's death. The act of covering one's face was a customary expression of profound sorrow, shame, or distress in the ancient Near East. It signifies a withdrawal from public view, an attempt to conceal intense emotion, or a physical manifestation of an inner collapse. The use of `{{H3874}}` emphasizes the completeness of this covering, suggesting a total engulfment in grief.
2. **[[Isaiah 25:7]]:** "And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations."
* In this prophetic passage, `{{H3874}}` appears as הַלּוֹט (hallōṭ), functioning as a noun meaning "the covering" or "the wrapper." The context is eschatological, describing God's ultimate redemptive act. The "covering" or "veil" is presented as something that obscures, blinds, or brings sorrow to "all peoples" and "all nations." This metaphorical usage extends the physical act of wrapping to an abstract concept of spiritual darkness, the power of death, or the pervasive sorrow that afflicts humanity due to sin and mortality. God's promise to "swallow up" this covering signifies its complete and utter removal, leading to a time of clarity, joy, and the eradication of death itself, as further elaborated in [[Isaiah 25:8]].
These two distinct usages demonstrate the versatility of `{{H3874}}`, applying its core meaning of "wrapping" to both a concrete physical act of mourning and a profound theological concept of spiritual obscuration.
### Related Words & Concepts
While `{{H3874}}` is a primitive root, its semantic domain intersects with several other Hebrew words related to covering, concealing, and veiling:
* **`{{H3680}}` (kāsāh):** This is a much more common verb meaning "to cover," "to conceal," or "to hide." It can refer to a wide range of coverings, from physical objects (e.g., covering the ark, [[Exodus 25:22]]) to abstract concepts (e.g., covering sin, [[Psalm 32:1]]). While similar, `{{H3874}}` seems to carry a nuance of a more complete or enveloping wrap.
* **`{{H6597}}` (pārōkheth):** This noun specifically refers to a "veil" or "curtain," particularly the one that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle and Temple ([[Exodus 26:31]]). This word connects to the idea of a covering that separates or conceals, akin to the "veil" in [[Isaiah 25:7]].
* **`{{H4301}}` (maʻaṭāh):** A noun meaning "cloak" or "mantle," something that covers or wraps a person ([[Isaiah 61:3]]). This highlights the protective or identifying aspect of a covering.
The distinctiveness of `{{H3874}}` often lies in its specific application to a thorough or enveloping act of covering, whether literal or figurative.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3874}}` is profound, despite its limited occurrences. In [[2 Samuel 19:4]], David's act of "covering his face" with `{{H3874}}` is a powerful depiction of human grief. It portrays the raw, visceral pain that can overwhelm even a king, leading to a physical withdrawal and an attempt to hide one's anguish. This illustrates the depth of human suffering and the isolating nature of profound loss, emphasizing that even figures of authority are subject to the universal experience of sorrow.
In [[Isaiah 25:7]], the "covering" (הַלּוֹט) takes on a rich eschatological and soteriological dimension. This "covering" symbolizes the pervasive spiritual blindness, the power of death, and the sorrow that afflicts all humanity as a consequence of the fall. It is a barrier that obscures divine truth and perpetuates suffering. God's promise to "swallow up" this covering is a dramatic declaration of His ultimate victory over these forces. This divine act signifies the removal of all impediments to full revelation, understanding, and life. It points to a future where death will be abolished, tears wiped away, and humanity will experience unhindered communion with God. Thus, `{{H3874}}` in this context becomes a symbol of the present human condition under sin and death, and simultaneously, a beacon of hope for God's complete and final redemption.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H3874}}` (lûwṭ) fundamentally means "to wrap up" or "to envelop." Its infrequent but impactful appearances in the biblical text offer significant insights. In [[2 Samuel 19:4]], it vividly portrays David's intense personal grief through the act of "covering" his face, highlighting the human experience of profound sorrow. More significantly, in [[Isaiah 25:7]], `{{H3874}}` is used metaphorically to describe "the covering" or "veil" that obscures spiritual truth and brings sorrow to all nations. This "covering" is prophesied to be utterly "swallowed up" by God, symbolizing His ultimate triumph over death, spiritual blindness, and all forms of human suffering. Consequently, `{{H3874}}` encapsulates themes of human vulnerability in grief and, more broadly, the eschatological hope of divine intervention that will remove all barriers to life, light, and joy in God's eternal presence.
TRV