### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻÛwts**, represented by `{{H5780}}`, is used in the Bible as a proper name for both people and a place. It appears **8 times** in **8 unique verses**. The name primarily identifies a geographic region, the **land of Uz**, and also serves as a personal name for several individuals in early biblical genealogies.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5780}}` appears in two distinct contexts. It is famously introduced as the "land of **Uz**," the home of the righteous man Job [[Job 1:1]]. This location is also mentioned in prophecy alongside other kingdoms like the Philistines [[Jeremiah 25:20]] and is associated with the dwelling place of the "daughter of Edom" [[Lamentations 4:21]]. Genealogically, the name **Uz** identifies different individuals: a son of Aram ([[Genesis 10:23]], [[1 Chronicles 1:17]]), the firstborn of Nahor (listed as Huz in [[Genesis 22:21]]), and a descendant of Dishan the Seirite ([[Genesis 36:28]], [[1 Chronicles 1:42]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Two related words clarify the context of `{{H5780}}`:
* `{{H758}}` **ʼĂrâm** (Aram, Mesopotamia, Syria, Syrians): This name is directly linked to **Uz** through ancestry, as Uz is listed as a son of **Aram** ([[Genesis 10:23]], [[1 Chronicles 1:17]]). **Aram** itself denotes both a person (a son of Shem) and the nation of Syria.
* `{{H776}}` **ʼerets** (earth, land, country): This word is essential for understanding the geographical usage of **Uz**. It is the word for "land" in the recurring phrase "the land of **Uz**" ([[Job 1:1]], [[Jeremiah 25:20]]), defining it as a specific country or territory.
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H5780}}` is primarily historical and geographical.
* **Narrative Setting:** The "land of **Uz**" provides the critical backdrop for the entire book of Job, establishing the location where the profound questions of suffering and divine justice unfold [[Job 1:1]].
* **Genealogical Marker:** The name **Uz** helps to map the relationships between early peoples. Its appearance in the lines of Aram [[Genesis 10:23]], Nahor [[Genesis 22:21]], and Dishan [[Genesis 36:28]] illustrates its use in defining distinct family and tribal lines in the ancient world.
* **Geopolitical Identity:** By being listed among other nations in prophetic writings, the "land of **Uz**" is presented as a recognized entity within the broader world of the Old Testament, subject to the same divine attention as its neighbors [[Jeremiah 25:20]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5780}}` is a specific proper noun that functions to anchor biblical narratives in both time and space. It is not an abstract concept but a concrete name for individuals and a nation. As a personal name, it establishes ancestry and lineage. As a place, the land of **Uz** is memorable as the home of Job and is recognized as a distinct kingdom among the nations of the ancient Near East.
TRV