### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çêpheq**, represented by `{{H5607}}`, carries a dual meaning of **chastisement** or **stroke**, and also **satiety** or **sufficiency**. It is a rare term, appearing only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible. This duality highlights contrasting themes of divine judgment and the limits of material abundance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two appearances of `{{H5607}}` in the book of Job showcase its distinct meanings. In one context, it serves as a warning against divine judgment, cautioning that God may take someone away with his **stroke**, a punishment that even a "great ransom" cannot prevent [[Job 36:18]]. Conversely, it is used to describe the ironic fate of the wicked, where "in the fulness of his **sufficiency** he shall be in straits" [[Job 20:22]], illustrating that complete material satisfaction can paradoxically lead to distress.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which `{{H5607}}` is found:
* `{{H2534}}` **chêmâh** (heat; figuratively, anger, poison... wrath): This word for wrath is directly linked to the "stroke" of `{{H5607}}` in [[Job 36:18]]. It often describes divine fury that demands justice [[Nahum 1:2]] or human anger that requires calming [[Proverbs 15:1]].
* `{{H4390}}` **mâlêʼ** (to fill or be full of... replenish, satisfy): This term for fullness or sufficiency is used alongside `{{H5607}}` in [[Job 20:22]]. It can refer to God’s command to **replenish** the earth [[Genesis 1:28]] or the promise that the earth will be **filled** with His glory [[Habakkuk 2:14]].
* `{{H3334}}` **yâtsar** (to press... be narrow; figuratively, be in distress): This word describes the outcome for the person who has reached their sufficiency in [[Job 20:22]], showing they will **be in straits**. It depicts a state of great trouble or anguish, as when David was "greatly **distressed**" [[1 Samuel 30:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5607}}` is centered on themes of judgment and the nature of prosperity.
* **Irreversible Divine Judgment:** The "stroke" in [[Job 36:18]] is presented as a final, unavoidable consequence of wrath. The verse emphasizes that no **ransom** `{{H3724}}` is great enough to deliver a person from this chastisement, highlighting the supremacy of divine justice over human attempts at satisfaction.
* **The Precariousness of Worldly Sufficiency:** The use of `{{H5607}}` in [[Job 20:22]] serves as a wisdom teaching on the instability of wealth. It suggests that for the wicked, the peak of abundance is the very point where downfall begins, leading from **sufficiency** to being **in straits** `{{H3334}}`.
* **A Call to Beware:** Both uses of the word are found within warnings. Elihu warns Job to beware of the **stroke** of wrath [[Job 36:18]], while Zophar’s speech describes the fate of the wicked as a warning against unrighteousness [[Job 20:22]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5607}}` is a concise yet powerful word with a dual focus. Though appearing only twice, it effectively communicates two significant biblical concepts: the inescapable nature of divine chastisement and the fragile, often paradoxical, nature of worldly abundance. It demonstrates how a moment of **sufficiency** can turn to distress, and how a **stroke** of judgment cannot be bought off, framing a perspective where true security is found outside of material wealth.
TRV