### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻûwz**, represented by `{{H5756}}`, is a primitive root primarily used to convey the act of gathering for safety or flight. Its base definition is to be strong, but causatively it means to strengthen, save by flight, gather, or retire. This specific term appears only **4 times** in **4 unique verses**, always in a context of urgency and self-preservation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5756}}` is consistently used as a command or description of flight from imminent danger. In the face of coming destruction from the north, the prophet Jeremiah commands the people to **retire** from their positions and not to stay [[Jeremiah 4:6]]. This is echoed in his call for the children of Benjamin to **gather yourselves to flee** from Jerusalem [[Jeremiah 6:1]]. The term is also used to describe the reactive flight of the inhabitants of Gebim [[Isaiah 10:31]]. A different application is seen in Exodus, where God instructs the Egyptians to **gather** their cattle from the fields to save them from the plague of hail, linking the action to preservation from divine judgment [[Exodus 9:19]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which `{{H5756}}` is used:
* `{{H1259}}` **bârâd** (hail): This is the direct threat from which people are to gather their property in [[Exodus 9:19]]. It is frequently depicted as an instrument of God's judgment, as when **hailstones** were cast down from heaven during battle [[Joshua 10:11]].
* `{{H5074}}` **nâdad** (to rove, flee): This word shares the theme of flight with `ʻûwz`. It describes those who **fled** from their enemies [[Psalms 31:11]] or a man who **wandereth** from his place like a bird from its nest [[Proverbs 27:8]].
* `{{H622}}` **ʼâçaph** (to gather): While `ʻûwz` specifies gathering for flight, `ʼâçaph` is a broader term for gathering. It can mean to **gather** nations for battle [[Zechariah 14:2]] or to be **gathered** to one's people in death [[Genesis 25:8]]. Its use in [[Exodus 9:19]] for those who were not "brought home" highlights the life-or-death nature of the gathering.
* `{{H7971}}` **shâlach** (to send away, for, or out): This word initiates the action in [[Exodus 9:19]], where the command is to "**send** therefore now, and gather thy cattle." It often signifies divine commission, as when the Lord puts forth or **stretches forth** his hand ([[Jeremiah 1:9]], [[Psalms 138:7]]).
* `{{H8628}}` **tâqaʻ** (to blow a trumpet): This action accompanies the command to flee in [[Jeremiah 6:1]], where the people are told to **blow** the trumpet in Tekoa as a warning. The trumpet sound is a recurring signal for alarm or assembly in the face of major events [[Joel 2:1]].
* `{{H935}}` **bôwʼ** (to go or come): This word describes the arrival of the very destruction that necessitates the action of `ʻûwz`. God declares he will **bring** evil from the north [[Jeremiah 4:6]], making the call to flee a direct response to what God is causing to come.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5756}}` is tied to its role in scenarios of divine judgment and mercy.
* **Urgent Response to Warning:** The word appears as a command that demands immediate action. The call to **retire** or **gather yourselves to flee** is a direct response to a divine warning of imminent destruction, emphasizing the necessity of heeding prophetic messages ([[Jeremiah 4:6]], [[Jeremiah 6:1]]).
* **A Path to Preservation:** In the midst of judgment, `{{H5756}}` represents a means of escape provided by God himself. By commanding the Egyptians to **gather** their cattle, God offers a way to be saved from the plague of hail, demonstrating that an opportunity for preservation can exist even within a divine decree of punishment [[Exodus 9:19]].
* **Consequence of Impending Judgment:** The need to flee is a direct result of coming calamity. The appearance of evil from the north [[Jeremiah 6:1]] and the removal of neighboring towns [[Isaiah 10:31]] create the conditions where gathering to flee is the only remaining option for survival.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5756}}` is a highly specific and rare term that signifies a strategic retreat or gathering for flight in the face of overwhelming danger. While its root meaning is "to be strong," its biblical usage is always about saving oneself or one's property by moving away from a threat. It underscores the themes of divine warning, the dire consequences of judgment, and the provision of mercy through a path of escape for those who listen and act.
TRV