### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻâmêl**, represented by `{{H6001}}`, describes one who is **toiling**. It appears 9 times across 9 unique verses in the Bible. Based on the primitive root meaning to toil, `{{H6001}}` carries a range of meanings from a concrete **laborer** or **workman** to a figurative state of being **sorrowful** or in **misery**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical text, `{{H6001}}` is frequently used to explore the nature and consequences of human effort. The book of Ecclesiastes questions the purpose of such striving, asking, "For whom do I **labour**" [[Ecclesiastes 4:8]] and what ultimate profit comes from it [[Ecclesiastes 3:9]]. The term can also describe a person in deep distress, as when light is given "to him that is in **misery**" [[Job 3:20]]. In a more tangible sense, it refers to a skilled laborer, as in the "workmen's hammer" [[Judges 5:26]]. Conversely, it can carry a negative moral judgment, describing the "hand of the **wicked**" [[Job 20:22]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the concept of toil and its effects:
* `{{H5998}}` **ʻâmal** (to toil, i.e. work severely and with irksomeness): This is the primitive root verb from which `{{H6001}}` is derived. It emphasizes the arduous and severe nature of the work. It is used in parallel with `{{H6001}}` in [[Proverbs 16:26]], "He that **laboureth** `{{H6001}}` **laboureth** `{{H5998}}` for himself".
* `{{H5999}}` **ʻâmâl** (toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind): This noun refers to the toil or trouble itself. [[Ecclesiastes 2:18]] links the one who toils with the result of his effort: "I hated all my **labour** `{{H5999}}` which I had **taken** `{{H6001}}` under the sun".
* `{{H3820}}` **lêb** (the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect): This word connects labor to the inner person. The toil described by `{{H6001}}` is associated with "the vexation of his **heart**" [[Ecclesiastes 2:22]], highlighting the emotional and mental strain of such work.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6001}}` centers on the human condition and the perceived value of worldly efforts.
* **The Futility of Toil:** A prominent theme, especially in Ecclesiastes, is the vanity of labor "under the sun." The one who labors `{{H6001}}` must often leave the fruits of that labor to another [[Ecclesiastes 2:18]], leading to questions about its ultimate profit [[Ecclesiastes 3:9]].
* **Labor as Suffering:** The word extends beyond mere physical work to embody anguish and misery. It is used for the person whose soul is bitter [[Job 3:20]] and whose labor is connected to vexation of the heart [[Ecclesiastes 2:22]].
* **The Moral Dimension of Effort:** `{{H6001}}` is not always neutral. While it can simply mean a workman [[Judges 5:26]], its use to describe the "wicked" [[Job 20:22]] implies that certain kinds of toiling are morally corrupt.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6001}}` is a multifaceted term that captures the biblical perspective on arduous human effort. It signifies not just the act of working but also the emotional and spiritual toll it takes. From the concrete **workman** to the sorrowful person in **misery**, and from the self-providing laborer to the one questioning the vanity of it all, **ʻâmêl** illustrates the profound and often troubling nature of toil in the human experience.
TRV