### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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}}`.
### Related Words & Concepts
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]].
### Theological Significance
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.
### Summary
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