### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nôwd**, represented by `{{H5112}}`, refers to **wandering** or **exile**. It is a very rare term, appearing just **1 time** in the Bible, within a single verse. Its singular usage, however, provides a powerful and specific image of a life marked by instability and displacement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5112}}` is found in [[Psalms 56:8]], where the psalmist cries out to God, "Thou tellest my **wanderings**". In this deeply personal prayer, the state of **wandering** is directly linked to profound sorrow. The psalmist feels his life is so unsettled that his experiences are a continuous journey of exile. This condition is the direct cause of his grief, prompting him to ask God to collect his tears, acknowledging that God is intimately aware of his painful circumstances.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of [[Psalms 56:8]] connects `{{H5112}}` to several other key words that enrich its meaning:
* `{{H5608}}` **çâphar** (to recount, i.e. celebrate; commune, (ac-) count; declare, number): This word, translated as "tellest," shows that God is not just a passive observer of the psalmist's wandering but is actively counting or taking account of each moment of it.
* `{{H1832}}` **dimʻâh** (weeping; tears): These are the direct result of the **wandering**. The psalmist’s suffering is so great that he visualizes his tears being collected, suggesting they are precious and not forgotten by God [[Psalms 56:8]].
* `{{H4997}}` **nôʼd** (a (skin or leather) bag (for fluids); bottle): This is the vessel where the psalmist asks God to **put** his tears, symbolizing preservation and value. The experience of suffering is to be stored and remembered [[Psalms 56:8]].
* `{{H5612}}` **çêpher** (writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book): The psalmist confirms that his afflictions are recorded in God's **book**, indicating that his wandering and tears are part of a divine record [[Psalms 56:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H5112}}`, based on its single occurrence, is profound.
* **Divine Awareness:** The use of "tellest" `{{H5608}}` alongside **wanderings** establishes the theme of God's meticulous and personal attention to the suffering of an individual. No moment of exile or instability goes unnoticed or unrecorded.
* **Value in Suffering:** The plea to have tears `{{H1832}}` put in a bottle `{{H4997}}` and recorded in a book `{{H5612}}` elevates the experience of suffering. It suggests that in God's economy, the pain endured during periods of **wandering** is not meaningless but is noted and preserved.
* **A Recorded History:** The act of placing the psalmist's wanderings and tears into a divine **book** implies that God keeps a permanent account. This points toward a future where this record will be considered, as seen in other passages where a "book of remembrance" is written for those who fear the Lord [[Malachi 3:16]].
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H5112}}` is used only once, its context in [[Psalms 56:8]] provides a rich theological portrait. The word **nôwd** encapsulates a state of painful exile and instability, yet it is immediately framed by the comforting truth of a God who counts, collects, and records the suffering of His people. It powerfully illustrates that even in the most unsettled moments of life, an individual remains under the watchful, caring, and detailed gaze of God.
TRV