### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉrûwtsâh**, represented by `{{H4794}}`, signifies a **race**, **course**, or **running**. The definition includes the act itself, as well as its manner or progress. It is a specific term, appearing **4 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{H4794}}` is used both literally and metaphorically. The literal sense is found in 2 Samuel, where a watchman identifies a messenger by his distinct style of **running** [[2 Samuel 18:27]]. The metaphorical use appears in Jeremiah, where the word describes the moral direction of a person's life. This **course** is condemned as **evil** [[Jeremiah 23:10]], with people turning to their wicked ways without repentance, like a **horse** that **rusheth** into **battle** [[Jeremiah 8:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to illuminate the meaning of **mᵉrûwtsâh** in its biblical contexts:
* `{{H7451}}` **raʻ** (bad or (as noun) evil): This word directly describes the moral quality of the people's **course** in [[Jeremiah 23:10]], defining their path as one of **evil**.
* `{{H1369}}` **gᵉbûwrâh** (force... valor, victory): Used alongside **course** in [[Jeremiah 23:10]], it is stated that the people's **force** is "not right," emphasizing that their strength and their life's direction are both corrupt.
* `{{H5483}}` **çûwç** (a horse): This provides a powerful simile in [[Jeremiah 8:6]], where a person turning to their sinful **course** is compared to a **horse** rushing headlong into **battle**, signifying an unthinking and destructive momentum.
* `{{H1309}}` **bᵉsôwrâh** (glad tidings): The literal **running** of Ahimaaz is directly tied to its purpose: bringing **good tidings** to the king [[2 Samuel 18:27]], connecting the action to its intended outcome.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4794}}` is centered on the concept of life as a path or race with moral consequences.
* **A Chosen Path:** The word **course** implies a chosen direction. In Jeremiah, it is used to condemn the people for actively turning to an **evil** path [[Jeremiah 8:6]] that has caused the **land** to **mourn** [[Jeremiah 23:10]].
* **The Momentum of Sin:** The image of a **horse** rushing into **battle** illustrates how a sinful **course** can have an unthinking and powerful momentum, pursued without reflection or repentance [[Jeremiah 8:6]].
* **Purposeful Action:** In contrast, the literal **running** of Ahimaaz is presented as a purposeful action. The king's conclusion that a **good man** brings **good tidings** links the character of the runner to the nature of their **course** [[2 Samuel 18:27]].
### Summary
In summary, **mᵉrûwtsâh** `{{H4794}}` is a term for a **course** or **running** that carries both literal and significant metaphorical weight. While it can describe a physical race, its primary theological application in scripture is to illustrate the direction of one's life. It powerfully contrasts a purposeful run intended for good with a destructive, **evil** **course** followed blindly, highlighting the critical importance of the path one chooses.
TRV