### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pûwrâh**, represented by `{{H6333}}`, refers to a **winepress**. Derived from a root meaning to crush, it specifically denotes the press where grapes are crushed. It appears only **2 times** across **2 unique verses**, yet its usage presents powerful imagery in scripture.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two occurrences of `{{H6333}}` illustrate contrasting themes of divine judgment and agricultural scarcity. In Isaiah, the Lord speaks of treading the **winepress** alone, a metaphor for executing judgment upon the people in anger and fury [[Isaiah 63:3]]. In Haggai, the term is used in a literal, agricultural context to describe a curse of unproductivity, where a man coming to the **press** expecting fifty vessels finds only twenty [[Haggai 2:16]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the function and context of the **winepress**:
* `{{H1869}}` **dârak** (to tread): This action verb is intrinsically linked to the function of a winepress. It is used in [[Isaiah 63:3]] to describe the Lord's action of treading the **winepress** of His wrath.
* `{{H3342}}` **yeqeb** (wine-vat; wine-press): This term appears alongside `{{H6333}}` in [[Haggai 2:16]] and often refers to the wine-vat or the entire press system, highlighting the agricultural setting of blessing or curse [[Joel 3:13]].
* `{{H7429}}` **râmaç** (to tread upon; trample): Used in parallel with **dârak**, this word intensifies the imagery of destruction within the winepress metaphor, as seen when the Lord declares He will **trample** the people in His fury [[Isaiah 63:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6333}}` is concentrated in its powerful metaphorical use.
* **Symbol of Divine Judgment:** The most striking use of **pûwrâh** is in [[Isaiah 63:3]], where it becomes a symbol of God’s fierce judgment. The act of treading the press is transformed into a picture of divine retribution, where the juice is the **blood** `{{H5332}}` of those being judged, staining the garments of the one who tramples them in fury.
* **Indicator of Agricultural Curse:** In [[Haggai 2:16]], the **press** functions as a measure of God's displeasure. The greatly diminished yield from the press signifies a state of curse or judgment in the form of agricultural failure, directly contrasting the blessing of overflowing presses described elsewhere [[Proverbs 3:10]].
### Summary
In summary, while **pûwrâh** `{{H6333}}` is a rare term, its meaning is sharp and potent. It serves as both a literal piece of agricultural equipment tied to economic outcomes and a terrifying metaphor for divine wrath. Through its two appearances, it connects the physical act of crushing grapes to the profound theological concepts of judgment and national provision, demonstrating how an everyday object can carry immense symbolic weight.
TRV