### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **lôaʻ**, represented by `{{H3930}}`, refers to the **throat** or **gullet**. Its appearance in scripture is exceptionally rare, occurring only **1 time** in a single verse. This singular usage, however, is in a potent metaphor that gives the term significant weight beyond its simple anatomical definition.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{H3930}}` is found in [[Proverbs 23:2]], which delivers a stark warning about self-control. The verse advises a person to "put a knife to thy **throat**, if thou be a man given to appetite." In this context, the **throat** is not just a part of the body but a symbol for unrestrained desire and gluttony. The instruction is a hyperbolic command to exercise extreme and even life-threatening discipline rather than be controlled by one's appetite.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context in [[Proverbs 23:2]] help illuminate its meaning:
* `{{H7760}}` **sûwm** (to put): This is the action commanded in the verse. The word is used widely to mean appoint, place, or make. Its use here emphasizes a deliberate and forceful act of placing a restraint, just as God can **put** His words in a prophet's mouth [[Isaiah 59:21]] or appoint beauty for ashes [[Isaiah 61:3]].
* `{{H7915}}` **sakkîyn** (a knife): This is the instrument of the threatened restraint. As a sharp tool, it highlights the severity and seriousness of the warning against giving in to appetite [[Proverbs 23:2]].
* `{{H1167}}` **baʻal** (a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner): In the verse, this describes a person who is a "master" or "owner" of a great appetite. The word signifies mastery or ownership, whether of a crib by an animal [[Isaiah 1:3]], of riches by a person [[Ecclesiastes 5:13]], or of a wife by a husband [[Proverbs 12:4]].
* `{{H5315}}` **nephesh** (appetite, soul, life): This word, translated as "appetite" in [[Proverbs 23:2]], has a much broader meaning. It can refer to the very soul or life of a person, which must be kept diligently [[Deuteronomy 4:9]] and can find rest [[Jeremiah 6:16]] or be restored by God [[Psalms 23:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3930}}` is tied directly to the moral lesson of its surrounding verse. It underscores the principle of bodily discipline and the danger of unchecked desire.
* **Mastery of the Flesh:** The vivid image of putting a knife to the **throat** serves as a powerful metaphor for subduing carnal appetites. The warning is that if one does not master their desires, those desires will lead to ruin.
* **The Seat of Appetite:** The **throat** is presented as the physical channel of appetite (`{{H5315}}`). The proverb teaches that true wisdom involves governing this fundamental aspect of human life.
* **A Matter of Life and Death:** By linking the **throat** to a knife (`{{H7915}}`), the text elevates the struggle for self-control from a minor issue to one of critical importance, implying that failure to control one's appetite is a form of self-destruction.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H3930}}` is a minor word in terms of frequency, its single use packs a powerful punch. As the **throat**, it becomes the focal point for one of the Bible's most graphic warnings about the need for self-restraint. It illustrates how wisdom literature uses visceral, physical imagery to teach profound spiritual truths about the battle between discipline and desire, and the necessity of mastering the self.
TRV