a primitive root; to pawn; causatively, to lend (on security); figuratively, to entangle; borrow, break (ranks), fetch (a pledge), lend, [idiom] surely.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻâbaṭ**, represented by `{{H5670}}`, is a primitive root with a core meaning related to financial transactions like **to pawn** or **to lend (on security)**. It appears **6 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. Beyond its financial sense, it can be used figuratively to mean to entangle or, in a specific military context, to break ranks.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical law, `{{H5670}}` governs the act of lending and handling pledges. It is presented as a sign of God's blessing when Israel is in a position to **lend** to other nations but does not need to **borrow** [[Deuteronomy 15:6]]. The law commands generosity, stating one must **surely lend** to a brother in need [[Deuteronomy 15:8]]. It also sets boundaries on collecting collateral, forbidding a lender from entering a debtor's house to **fetch** his pledge [[Deuteronomy 24:10]]. In a completely different context, the prophet Joel uses the word to describe the disciplined advance of a mighty army, noting that "they shall not **break** their ranks" [[Joel 2:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the concepts surrounding `{{H5670}}`:
* `{{H5667}}` **ʻăbôwṭ** (a pawn; pledge): This is the object that is fetched or held in a lending transaction. It is used directly with `{{H5670}}` when the law specifies how to handle a brother's **pledge** [[Deuteronomy 24:10]].
* `{{H5383}}` **nâshâh** (to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest): This term is often used in parallel with lending, appearing in the same verse as `{{H5670}}` to describe the action of one who does **lend** to a brother [[Deuteronomy 24:10]].
* `{{H4910}}` **mâshal** (to rule): The ability to lend without borrowing is directly linked to national prominence, as God promises that Israel will **reign** over many nations as a result of His blessing [[Deuteronomy 15:6]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H5670}}` carries significant theological and ethical weight.
* **Sign of Divine Blessing:** The ability to **lend** rather than **borrow** is established as a tangible outcome of obedience to and blessing from God. It is linked with prosperity and the power to **reign** over other nations [[Deuteronomy 15:6]].
* **Mandate for Social Justice:** The term is embedded in laws that demand compassion. The emphatic repetition in "shalt **surely lend**" `(`{{H5670}}` `{{H5670}}`)` underscores the moral obligation to provide for the poor [[Deuteronomy 15:8]]. The regulations around fetching a pledge also protect the dignity of the borrower.
* **Metaphor for Order and Discipline:** In its figurative sense, the word describes perfect, unbroken discipline. The army in Joel that does not **break** its ranks [[Joel 2:7]] serves as a metaphor for an unstoppable and divinely directed force, free from entanglement or disorder.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5670}}` is a versatile word that extends from practical financial law to powerful prophetic imagery. It defines not only the act of lending, borrowing, and taking a pledge but also connects these actions to the larger biblical themes of divine blessing, social righteousness, and unwavering discipline. The word illustrates how a simple root can govern both literal transactions and figurative concepts of order and power.
TRV