a primitive root; to remove (intransitive or transitive) figuratively, to grow old; specifically, to transcribe; copy out, leave off, become (wax) old, remove.
Transliteration:ʻâthaq
Pronunciation:aw-thak'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H6275 (ʻâthaq) is a primitive verb carrying a rich and multifaceted semantic range. At its most fundamental, it signifies "to remove" or "to move away," implying a shift in position or state. From this core meaning, several key extensions emerge:
1. **Spatial Removal/Relocation:** This refers to the physical act of moving something or someone from one place to another. It can be transitive ("to remove something") or intransitive ("to move away").
2. **Temporal Progression/Aging:** Figuratively, ʻâthaq denotes the passage of time, leading to the state of "growing old" or "becoming ancient." This is a metaphorical "removal" from a state of youth or newness.
3. **Scribal Transmission/Copying:** A specialized and highly significant meaning is "to transcribe" or "to copy out." This sense implies the transfer of information or text from an original source to a new medium, or the handing down of tradition from one generation to the next. This "removal" is not destructive but preservative, ensuring continuity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of H6275 in the Hebrew Bible, though relatively few, powerfully illustrate its diverse meanings:
* **Spatial Removal:**
* In [[Job 9:5]], the verb describes God's immense power: "He removes the mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger." Here, ʻâthaq emphasizes divine, irresistible force, capable of shifting the most stable elements of creation.
* [[Job 18:4]] uses the term in a rhetorical question: "Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed from its place?" Bildad uses it to highlight the absurdity of Job's presumption that the natural order should bend to his suffering, reinforcing the idea of a fixed, divinely ordered cosmos.
* [[Proverbs 25:5]] applies ʻâthaq to human action within a societal context: "Remove the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness." This is an imperative for righteous governance, where the active "removal" of evil is essential for stability and justice.
* **Temporal Progression/Aging:**
* [[Job 21:7]] poses a question about the prosperity of the wicked: "Why do the wicked live, become old (ʻâthaq), yea, are mighty in power?" Here, ʻâthaq clearly denotes the attainment of old age, challenging the conventional wisdom that only the righteous enjoy longevity.
* Similarly, in [[Job 32:6]], Elihu begins his discourse by acknowledging his youth in contrast to his elders: "I am young, and you are very old (ʻâthaq); therefore I was afraid and dared not declare my opinion to you." This usage underscores the respect traditionally accorded to age and its presumed association with wisdom.
* **Scribal Transmission/Handing Down:**
* Perhaps the most theologically profound use of ʻâthaq is found in [[Isaiah 29:13]]: "Therefore the Lord said: 'Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught (ʻâthaq) by men.'" In this context, ʻâthaq refers to a tradition or teaching that has been "copied out," "handed down," or "transmitted" by human precepts, rather than being rooted in genuine divine revelation. This highlights a superficial religiosity based on human rules rather than a heartfelt relationship with God.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H6275 is illuminated by its relationship to other Hebrew terms:
* **Words of Movement/Change:** `{{H5256}}` (nāsa', to pull up, remove, depart), `{{H5493}}` (sûr, to turn aside, remove, depart). While these share the sense of movement, ʻâthaq often carries the nuance of a more deliberate or significant shift, or the passage of time.
* **Words of Age/Antiquity:** The root ʻâthaq itself gives rise to related forms such as `{{H6279}}` (ʻāthēq), a noun meaning "ancient" or "old," and `{{H6266}}` (ʻāthîq), an adjective also meaning "ancient" or "old." These directly reinforce the temporal aspect of the root. `{{H2204}}` (zāqēn, old, elder) is a more general term for age.
* **Words of Writing/Tradition:** `{{H3789}}` (kāṯaḇ, to write) is a general verb for writing. However, ʻâthaq in the sense of "transcribe" or "copy" implies a specific act of faithful reproduction or transmission of information, often associated with established texts or traditions. This connects it to concepts of oral and written tradition, and the authority (or lack thereof) of such transmission.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H6275 is profound, touching upon divine attributes, human responsibility, and the nature of true worship:
* **Divine Sovereignty and Power:** The use of ʻâthaq in Job to describe God's ability to "remove mountains" ([[Job 9:5]]) underscores His absolute, unchallengeable power over creation. It portrays a God who is not bound by the stability of the physical world, emphasizing His transcendence and omnipotence. This stands in stark contrast to human weakness and inability to control circumstances.
* **Ethical Governance and Justice:** The command to "remove the wicked" ([[Proverbs 25:5]]) speaks to the divine imperative for justice and righteousness in human leadership. It implies that a just society is one where evil is actively purged, reflecting God's own character of holiness and justice.
* **Mortality and the Limits of Human Wisdom:** The sense of "growing old" highlights the reality of human finitude and the passage of time. While age can bring wisdom, as Elihu initially suggests ([[Job 32:6]]), the book of Job ultimately points beyond human experience to God as the ultimate source of true wisdom and understanding, challenging the assumption that age alone confers it.
* **Authenticity of Worship and Tradition:** The most critical theological insight comes from [[Isaiah 29:13]]. When worship or fear of God is "taught by the precept of men" (ʻâthaq), it signifies a dangerous departure from genuine, heart-felt devotion based on divine revelation. This use of ʻâthaq warns against external, ritualistic religion that is merely "copied" or "handed down" as human tradition, devoid of inner spiritual truth. It contrasts with a living faith that springs from a direct encounter with God's word and Spirit, emphasizing the necessity of an authentic, divinely-initiated relationship over humanly-contrived religiosity.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb H6275 (ʻâthaq) is a remarkably versatile and theologically significant term. Its core meaning of "to remove" expands to encompass physical relocation, the temporal process of aging, and crucially, the transmission or copying of information and tradition. In its spatial sense, it powerfully depicts God's sovereign control over creation and the human responsibility to establish justice. In its temporal sense, it confronts human mortality and the limits of age-based wisdom. Most profoundly, in its scribal sense, ʻâthaq in [[Isaiah 29:13]] serves as a stark warning against a form of worship that is merely a human-made tradition, copied and passed down without genuine heart engagement. Thus, ʻâthaq contributes to a biblical theology that emphasizes divine power, ethical living, the reality of human finitude, and the paramount importance of authentic, divinely-rooted faith over superficial, humanly-derived religiosity.
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