### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **lâʻaz**, represented by `{{H3937}}`, is a primitive root used to mean **to speak in a foreign tongue; strange language**. It appears only **1 times** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible. Its singular usage serves to highlight a distinct cultural and linguistic separation between peoples.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H3937}}` is in [[Psalms 114:1]], which recounts the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. The verse describes the "house of Jacob" `{{H3290}}` going out from "a people of **strange language**". This term is used to characterize the Egyptians, establishing them as linguistically and culturally foreign to the people of Israel `{{H3478}}`. The context is one of departure and liberation, where Israel is leaving an alien environment.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context help clarify its meaning:
* `{{H5971}}` **ʻam** (a people): This word is directly connected to `{{H3937}}` in the phrase "a people of strange language," defining the collective group from which Israel was separating [[Psalms 114:1]].
* `{{H4714}}` **Mitsrayim** (Egypt, Egyptians): This identifies the specific nation and people characterized by the strange language. The entire narrative of the Exodus centers on God delivering Israel from the Egyptians [[Exodus 3:8]].
* `{{H3318}}` **yâtsâʼ** (to go out): This key verb describes the action of Israel's departure, a physical and spiritual "going out" from the land of the people with a foreign tongue [[Psalms 114:1]].
* `{{H3290}}` **Yaʻăqôb** (Jacob): This refers to the patriarch and, by extension, his descendants, the "house of Jacob." They are the ones being distinguished from the people of a strange language [[Psalms 114:1]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3937}}` is tied to its specific narrative function:
* **A Mark of Distinction:** The term is used to distinctly mark the Egyptian people as "other." This linguistic barrier underscores the cultural and spiritual separation between Israel and the nation from which they were delivered [[Psalms 114:1]].
* **The Nature of Bondage:** By characterizing the Egyptians with a "strange language," the text subtly defines the state of bondage as being among a people who are fundamentally different and foreign.
* **The Identity of God's People:** The use of `{{H3937}}` helps to define Israel's identity by contrast. They are not the people of a strange language; they are the "house of Jacob" `{{H3290}}`, a people called out by God to be distinct.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H3937}}` is exceptionally rare, its single use is significant. It functions as a powerful descriptor within the Exodus narrative, defining the Egyptians as a foreign-speaking people. This emphasizes the theme of separation and deliverance, highlighting the unique identity of Israel as they are brought out from a land and a culture that is explicitly alien to them.
TRV