### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **'êm**, represented by `{{H517}}`, is the primary term for **mother**. It appears 220 times in 202 unique verses, signifying its importance as the bond of the family. The term is used in both a literal and figurative sense, establishing a foundation for understanding familial relationships, origin, and national identity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{H517}}` is central to the structure of the family and society. It is enshrined in the law, with the command to "Honour thy father and thy **mother**" appearing in both Exodus and Deuteronomy ([[Exodus 20:12]], [[Deuteronomy 5:16]]). The word defines a person's physical origin, as seen in expressions like "my **mother's** womb" ([[Job 1:21]], [[Psalms 139:13]]) and "the bowels of my **mother**" [[Isaiah 49:1]]. It is also used to portray the relationship between children and parents, noting that a foolish son is the "heaviness of his **mother**" [[Proverbs 10:1]]. Figuratively, the term can represent a nation, as when God asks about the bill of "your **mother's** divorcement," referring to Israel [[Isaiah 50:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the family unit surrounding the mother:
* `{{H1}}` **'âb** (father): The direct counterpart to mother, often appearing alongside `{{H517}}` in commands and descriptions of the family unit ([[Genesis 2:24]], [[Leviticus 19:3]]).
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (son): This word denotes the male offspring and is crucial for understanding lineage. The relationship is highlighted in phrases like "thy **mother's** sons" [[Genesis 27:29]] and in proverbs describing how a son's actions affect his parents [[Proverbs 10:1]].
* `{{H1323}}` **bath** (daughter): As the female offspring, this term completes the immediate family picture. The breakdown of family order is illustrated when a "daughter riseth up against her **mother**" [[Micah 7:6]].
* `{{H3205}}` **yâlad** (to bear young): This primitive root describes the act of giving birth, the primary function associated with a mother. It is used in contexts where a prophet laments that his mother has "borne" him [[Jeremiah 15:10]] and where a mother brings forth a child [[Song of Solomon 8:5]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H517}}` extends from the physical to the spiritual and national.
* **Source of Life:** A mother is consistently portrayed as the source of physical life, from whom a person is formed. The Psalmist declares that God took him from his "**mother's** bowels" [[Psalms 71:6]] and covered him in his "**mother's** womb" [[Psalms 139:13]], connecting motherhood directly to God's creative power.
* **Foundation of Moral Order:** The role of a mother is upheld as a cornerstone of social and moral law. Honoring one's mother is a divine command [[Deuteronomy 5:16]], and bringing shame upon her is a mark of a foolish child [[Proverbs 29:15]].
* **National & Covenantal Symbol:** Scripture uses the figure of a mother to represent the nation of Israel. The nation's unfaithfulness is described as a **mother** who "hath played the harlot" [[Hosea 2:5]], and its punishment is described as a **mother** being "put away" for her transgressions [[Isaiah 50:1]]. God also uses this relationship to promise restoration, making a "barren woman... a joyful **mother** of children" [[Psalms 113:9]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H517}}` is a word that carries immense weight throughout the Bible. It moves beyond a simple familial title to become a symbol of origin, a pillar of divine law, and a powerful metaphor for the covenant relationship between God and his people. The concept of "mother" serves as a fundamental building block for understanding identity, responsibility, and God's interaction with humanity.
TRV