The Hebrew word pûwgâh, represented by H6314, is a rare term for intermission or rest. Derived from the root word פּוּג, its singular appearance in scripture makes its context particularly significant. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse, highlighting a very specific and poignant moment.
The sole use of H6314 is found in a moment of intense national grief in Lamentations 2:18. The verse commands the personified "daughter of Zion" to engage in ceaseless mourning: "Their heart cried unto the Lord... let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest." Here, pûwgâh is used in the negative to forbid any pause or intermission from weeping. The command is for a continuous expression of sorrow, where the heart's cry H6817 to God is accompanied by tears H1832 that are not allowed to cease H1826.
Several related words from its context in Lamentations 2:18 illuminate the meaning of H6314:
- H1826 dâmam (cease, rest, be silent): This word appears in the same verse, reinforcing the theme of non-stop action: "let not the apple of thine eye cease." It is also used for holding one's peace Leviticus 10:3 or for the sun standing still Joshua 10:13.
- H1832 dimʻâh (tears): The subject of the ceaseless action. The lack of rest is specifically from weeping. God is shown to see and respond to tears in other contexts 2 Kings 20:5.
- H3381 yârad (run down, descend): This word describes the flow of tears commanded in the verse. Its other uses often involve a literal descent, such as God coming down to deliver Exodus 3:8 or rain coming down from heaven Isaiah 55:10.
- H6817 tsâʻaq (cry out, shriek): This is the action of the heart H3820 that initiates the lament. The Bible notes that when the righteous cry, the Lord hears them Psalms 34:17.
The theological weight of H6314 is derived entirely from its powerful, singular context.
- Unrelenting Supplication: The word's use in a negative command—"give thyself no rest"—frames profound grief as an act of continuous, all-consuming supplication. It suggests a form of prayer that is so urgent it cannot afford an intermission.
- The Expression of Deep Sorrow: By forbidding rest from weeping, the term underscores that certain tragedies demand a full and uninterrupted expression of sorrow. The heart's H3820 cry to God is channeled through this relentless physical act Lamentations 2:18.
- A Call to Persistent Mourning: In the context of national judgment, the lack of pûwgâh serves as a call to the people to fully engage with the gravity of their situation without pause or distraction.
In summary, H6314 pûwgâh is a term defined by its absence. Its lone biblical appearance in Lamentations 2:18 powerfully conveys the idea of ceaselessness in a time of overwhelming tragedy. It is not about finding rest, but about the spiritual necessity of forgoing it, channeling the heart's profound grief into an uninterrupted cry to God. This single, poignant use illustrates how the denial of rest can itself be an act of profound spiritual expression.
TRV