### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mâshôwṭ**, represented by `{{H4880}}`, is the specific term for an **oar**. It appears only **2 times** across **2 unique verses**, both found within a single prophetic oracle in the book of Ezekiel. This rare term refers directly to the instrument used to propel a ship by rowing, placing it squarely within the domain of ancient maritime life and commerce.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H4880}}` is used exclusively in the detailed prophecy against the city of Tyre. First, it appears in a list of the magnificent materials used to construct Tyre's figurative ship of state, emphasizing its wealth and power: "Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine **oars**" [[Ezekiel 27:6]]. Later in the same chapter, the word is used to describe the city's utter collapse, where "all that handle the **oar**, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships" in mourning and despair [[Ezekiel 27:29]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the maritime context surrounding the **oar**:
* `{{H437}}` **ʼallôwn** (an oak or other strong tree): This word identifies the specific, high-quality material used to craft the **oars** for Tyre's ship, signifying strength and superior craftsmanship [[Ezekiel 27:6]].
* `{{H8610}}` **tâphas** (to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield): This verb is used to describe the sailors who "handle the **oar**," linking the object to the human action required to operate it [[Ezekiel 27:29]].
* `{{H4419}}` **mallâch** (a sailor... mariner): This term identifies the "mariners" who work alongside those who handle the **oar**, defining the professional crew whose livelihood is tied to the ship [[Ezekiel 27:29]].
* `{{H6213}}` **ʻâsâh** (to do or make): This common verb is used to state that the **oars** were "made" from the oaks of Bashan, indicating their creation and construction [[Ezekiel 27:6]].
### Theological Significance
The symbolic weight of `{{H4880}}` is derived entirely from its context in Ezekiel 27.
* **Symbol of Commercial Power:** The **oars**, crafted from the strong oaks of Bashan, contribute to the image of Tyre as an unrivaled maritime power, a vessel of immense wealth and pride built from the finest materials.
* **Instrument of Human Effort:** An **oar** is powered by human strength. Its mention highlights the human industry and labor that propelled Tyre to its heights of glory.
* **Emblem of Desolation:** The scene of those who "handle the **oar**" abandoning their ships is a powerful image of collapse. The very instruments of Tyre's success are forsaken, signifying the complete cessation of its trade and the futility of its power in the face of judgment.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4880}}` is a highly specific term whose significance is concentrated in a single, powerful biblical passage. As an **oar**, it functions both literally as a piece of maritime equipment and symbolically as a representation of Tyre's commercial strength. Its use first to build up the image of the city's glory and then to depict its utter abandonment makes it a key detail in the prophetic lament over Tyre's fall.
TRV