### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nûwq**, represented by `{{H5134}}`, is a primitive root meaning to **suckle** or **nurse**. It is a very specific term, appearing only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5134}}` is in the narrative of Moses's infancy. In [[Exodus 2:9]], after Pharaoh's daughter discovers the child, she unknowingly gives him to his own mother, Jochebed, with the instruction to care for him. The verse concludes, "And the woman took the child, and **nursed** it," using `{{H5134}}` to describe this pivotal act of maternal care that ensures the child's survival.
### Related Words & Concepts
A closely related and more frequently used word helps to broaden the concept:
* `{{H3243}}` **yânaq**: This related root means to **suck** or, causatively, **to give milk**. It is used more broadly than `{{H5134}}` to describe both the act of a child receiving nourishment and the state of being a "suckling" or "nursing mother." It appears in contexts describing the vulnerability of infants [[Lamentations 2:11]] and in prophetic imagery where Israel is promised to "suck the milk of the Gentiles," signifying a future of abundant provision [[Isaiah 60:16]].
### Theological Significance
The theme of nursing carries significant weight, illustrating concepts of dependence, care, and divine provision.
* **Providential Care:** The single use of `{{H5134}}` occurs within a narrative demonstrating God's hidden providence. A child sentenced to death is instead preserved and nurtured by his own mother, funded by the very authority that sought his destruction [[Exodus 2:9]].
* **Metaphor for National Restoration:** The related term `{{H3243}}` is used metaphorically by the prophets. Israel is promised a future where foreign kings and queens will be their "nursing fathers" and "nursing mothers," symbolizing complete restoration and sustenance from unlikely sources [[Isaiah 49:23]].
* **Dependence and Vulnerability:** The concept of "sucklings" `{{H3243}}` often represents the most helpless members of a population. This imagery is used to show God ordaining strength from the weak [[Psalms 8:2]] and to depict the depth of tragedy when even the most vulnerable perish in judgment [[Jeremiah 44:7]].
### Summary
In conclusion, while **nûwq** `{{H5134}}` is used only once, its context in the preservation of Moses is foundational. It anchors the literal act of nursing, which is then expanded upon by the related word `{{H3243}}` into a powerful biblical metaphor for divine providence, national restoration, and the tender care God provides for His dependent people.
TRV