### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nᵉqârâh**, represented by `{{H5366}}`, refers to a **fissure** or **cleft**. It is derived from a root word meaning to bore, penetrate, or quarry. This term appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible, consistently describing a fissure within a rock.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H5366}}` describes a place of hiding or divine protection. In Exodus, God places Moses in a **clift `{{H5366}}`** of the rock to shield him from the full force of His passing glory [[Exodus 33:22]]. In contrast, the prophet Isaiah describes people fleeing into the **clefts `{{H5366}}`** of the rocks out of terror at the majesty of the LORD when He arises to judge the earth [[Isaiah 2:21]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to form the geological and theological landscape in which `{{H5366}}` is found:
* `{{H6697}}` **tsûwr** (a cliff, rock, boulder; figuratively, a refuge): This word often describes the larger rock formation in which the cleft is found. It is frequently used as a title for God, identifying Him as a source of strength and refuge [[Deuteronomy 32:4]].
* `{{H5553}}` **çelaʻ** (a craggy rock, stone, strong hold): Often used to describe a rugged or lofty rock, this term appears alongside `{{H5366}}` in Isaiah to describe the "ragged rocks" where people hide [[Isaiah 2:21]]. It can also signify a place of stability and deliverance [[Psalms 40:2]].
* `{{H5585}}` **çâʻîyph** (a fissure (of rocks); also a bough): This word, translated as "tops" in [[Isaiah 2:21]], is nearly synonymous with `{{H5366}}` and reinforces the image of people seeking shelter in the highest and most remote crevices of the mountains.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H5366}}` is centered on the theme of refuge in the midst of overwhelming divine power.
* **Divinely Appointed Shelter:** The **clift** is not merely a natural formation but a place designated by God to protect humanity from an otherwise unbearable encounter with His pure **glory `{{H3519}}`**, as seen in the account of Moses [[Exodus 33:22]].
* **A Hiding Place from Judgment:** The same location serves as a desperate refuge for those fleeing God's terrifying majesty. This highlights a dual reality: the presence of God can be a source of protection for the righteous and a source of terror for others [[Isaiah 2:21]].
* **Refuge in the Rock:** The concept of a cleft within a **rock `{{H6697}}`** is powerful, as the rock itself is a frequent biblical metaphor for God's strength and stability [[1 Samuel 2:2]]. The **clift** therefore represents a place of intimate safety found within the very character of God.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H5366}}` is a rare word, it carries significant weight. As a **cleft** or **fissure**, it represents a place of refuge within the unshakeable mass of a rock. Biblically, it is used to illustrate a profound truth about God's presence: it is a place of both intimate protection for those He shelters and a source of fear from which others must hide, underscoring the importance of one's relationship to the "Rock of our salvation" [[Psalms 95:1]].
TRV