### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼalmânâh**, represented by `{{H490}}`, primarily defines a **widow**. It appears 55 times across 54 unique verses in the Bible. While its core meaning refers to a woman who has lost her husband, the term extends metaphorically to describe a desolate place or a solitary, abandoned house or city.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical law and prophecy, `{{H490}}` is consistently used to identify one of society's most vulnerable members. The **widow** is almost always mentioned in a group alongside the **fatherless** `{{H3490}}` and the **stranger** `{{H1616}}`. Scripture contains explicit commands to ensure their fair treatment, forbidding oppression [[Exodus 22:22]] and the perversion of justice [[Deuteronomy 27:19]]. These commands extend to practical provision, such as leaving a forgotten sheaf from the harvest for them [[Deuteronomy 24:19]]. The word is also used figuratively to convey ultimate desolation, as when a once-great city is described as having "become as a **widow**" [[Lamentations 1:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help frame the social and theological context of the widow:
* `{{H3490}}` **yâthôwm** (fatherless): Defined as a bereaved person or orphan, this word is the most frequent companion to **ʼalmânâh**. Their pairing underscores a shared state of vulnerability and reliance on divine and communal justice [[Psalms 68:5]].
* `{{H1616}}` **gêr** (stranger): As a foreigner or sojourner, the stranger completes the trio of protected persons in Israelite society. The command to "oppress not the **widow**, nor the **fatherless**, the **stranger**, nor the **poor**" establishes a standard for righteousness [[Zechariah 7:10]].
* `{{H802}}` **ʼishshâh** (woman, wife): This word provides the foundational identity from which a widow's status is derived. A curse of judgment can be for **wives** to become **widows**, directly linking the two states [[Jeremiah 18:21]].
* `{{H6041}}` **ʻânîy** (poor, afflicted): This term describes those who are depressed in circumstances. They are often included in the list of those who must not be oppressed, highlighting the widow's typical state of poverty and need [[Zechariah 7:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H490}}` is significant, serving as a measure of a society's moral standing and a reflection of God's character.
* **God as Protector and Judge:** Scripture repeatedly portrays God as the special defender of widows. He is called "a judge of the **widows**" [[Psalms 68:5]] who establishes her border [[Proverbs 15:25]] and relieves her in her distress [[Psalms 146:9]].
* **Benchmark for Justice:** The treatment of widows serves as a litmus test for the righteousness of Israel's leaders and people. The failure to "plead for the **widow**" is a mark of rebellious princes ([[Isaiah 1:17]], [[Isaiah 1:23]]), and oppressing her is a sin that invites divine judgment [[Malachi 3:5]].
* **Symbol of Judgment:** The state of widowhood is used as a powerful metaphor for the consequences of sin. War and divine punishment result in women becoming **widows** ([[Ezekiel 22:25]], [[Jeremiah 18:21]]), and God's anger can lead Him to have no mercy on a sinful nation's **widows** [[Isaiah 9:17]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H490}}` is far more than a simple demographic label. It identifies a person in a state of profound loss and vulnerability, whom God places under his special protection. The term functions literally to command justice and compassion, and figuratively to represent the sorrow of utter desolation. Ultimately, the biblical treatment of the **ʼalmânâh** becomes a critical measure of righteousness for both individuals and nations, revealing the heart of a God who defends the defenseless.
TRV