a primitive root; to shut up; by implication, to surrender; stop, give over. See also סָגַר, שָׂכַר.
Transliteration:çâkar
Pronunciation:saw-kar'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H5534}}` (çâkar) is a primitive root primarily conveying the sense of "to shut up" or "to close off." This core meaning implies an action of sealing, blocking, or enclosing, thereby preventing access, egress, or flow. From this literal sense, the semantic range extends to "to stop" or "to cease," as the act of shutting something up inherently brings about a cessation of its function or movement. A significant implication of `{{H5534}}` is "to surrender" or "to give over." This derived meaning can arise from a state of being "shut up" or confined, leading to a forced submission, or it can refer to the act of "shutting up" one's own resistance or will, thereby yielding. While the definition notes a connection to `{{H5462}}` (sagar, "to shut") and `{{H7936}}` (sakhar, "to hire"), the primary focus of `{{H5534}}` remains on the act of closure and its resultant implications of cessation and yielding.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The usage of `{{H5534}}` across the Hebrew Scriptures reveals its diverse applications, often underscoring divine agency or human predicament. In its most literal sense, it describes the act of closing or sealing:
* **Physical Closure:** The word can refer to the shutting of gates or doors, often in a context of security or confinement. For instance, a city's defenses might be described as "shut up" against an enemy, or a prison door "shut up" on an inmate [[1 Samuel 23:7]].
* **Cessation of Natural Processes:** `{{H5534}}` is also employed to describe the stopping of natural phenomena, particularly the heavens withholding rain, signifying divine judgment or control over the elements [[1 Kings 8:35]]. Similarly, it can describe the "shutting up" of a womb, indicating barrenness and God's sovereign hand over fertility [[Genesis 20:18]].
* **Confinement and Restraint:** Beyond physical structures, the verb can denote the act of confining or restraining individuals or groups. This can be seen in contexts where people are "shut up" in a city during a siege, or when an individual's path is "shut up," indicating a blockage or lack of escape [[Deuteronomy 32:30]].
* **Implication of Surrender/Giving Over:** The more nuanced meaning of "surrender" or "give over" often emerges from these contexts of being "shut up." When a city is "shut up" by an enemy, it is implicitly "given over" to them, or forced to "surrender" [[Joshua 6:1]]. This can also extend to a metaphorical "giving over" of a people into the hands of their enemies as a consequence of their disobedience.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of `{{H5534}}` is closely intertwined with other Hebrew terms expressing closure, confinement, and cessation.
* **`{{H5462}}` (sagar):** This word is a strong semantic parallel, also meaning "to shut, close, bar." While often interchangeable, `{{H5534}}` sometimes carries a stronger implication of the *result* of shutting – the state of being closed off, stopped, or surrendered – whereas `{{H5462}}` can more broadly refer to the act of closing. However, their meanings frequently overlap.
* **Concepts of Confinement:** Related concepts include imprisonment, siege, blockade, and restriction. These situations often involve the "shutting up" of a place or person.
* **Concepts of Cessation:** The idea of "stopping" or "ceasing" is inherent, whether it is the cessation of rain, the cessation of movement, or the cessation of resistance.
* **Concepts of Submission and Yielding:** The implication of "surrender" or "giving over" connects `{{H5534}}` to notions of submission, yielding, and the consequences of being overwhelmed or overcome.
* **Distinction from `{{H7936}}` (sakhar):** While phonetically similar and listed as a related root in some lexicons, `{{H7936}}` primarily means "to hire" or "to reward," belonging to a distinct semantic domain unrelated to closure or cessation. Its inclusion as a "See also" might relate to shared consonantal roots or historical linguistic development rather than direct semantic overlap in the biblical text.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H5534}}` is profound, often highlighting divine sovereignty and the consequences of human action.
* **Divine Sovereignty and Control:** God is frequently depicted as the one who "shuts up" or "opens." He can "shut up" the heavens to withhold rain, demonstrating His control over creation and His ability to bless or curse [[Deuteronomy 11:17]]. He can "shut up" a womb, asserting His ultimate authority over life and fertility [[1 Samuel 1:5-6]]. This illustrates His absolute power and His direct involvement in the affairs of humanity and the natural world.
* **Judgment and Discipline:** The act of God "shutting up" a people or delivering them over to their enemies often serves as a form of divine judgment or discipline for disobedience. When a nation is "shut up" within its own borders or "given over" to foreign powers, it signifies the withdrawal of God's protection and the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness [[Leviticus 26:25]].
* **Protection and Deliverance:** Conversely, being "shut up" by God can also imply divine protection. Noah and his family were "shut up" in the ark by God, preserving them from the flood [[Genesis 7:16]]. This dual capacity of God to both confine for judgment and enclose for salvation reveals His multifaceted justice and mercy.
* **Human Response and Submission:** The implication of "surrender" prompts reflection on human response to divine will. Whether forced by circumstance or willingly chosen, the act of "giving over" or yielding is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative, pointing to the necessity of submission to God's ultimate authority.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H5534}}` (çâkar) is a versatile term whose core meaning is "to shut up" or "to close off." This primary sense extends to "to stop" or "to cease," and, significantly, implies "to surrender" or "to give over." Its biblical occurrences span contexts from the physical closure of gates and the cessation of natural processes (like rain or fertility) to the confinement of individuals or nations. Theologically, `{{H5534}}` powerfully underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation, His justice in judgment, and His grace in protection. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the human condition in the face of divine action, often culminating in the necessity of yielding or surrendering to His will. The profound implications of this seemingly simple verb reveal the intricate ways God interacts with His creation and calls humanity to account.
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