### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pâchach**, represented by `{{H6351}}`, is a primitive root used to mean **to spread a net; be snared**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, making it a highly specific term for being entrapped.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole biblical appearance of `{{H6351}}` is in [[Isaiah 42:22]], where it describes the condition of a people who have been robbed and plundered. In this context, the people are depicted as being completely overcome, **snared** in holes and hidden away in prisons. The verse paints a picture of total helplessness, stating they have become a prey and a spoil, with no one to deliver them or call for their restoration [[Isaiah 42:22]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its single context illuminate the meaning of being snared:
* `{{H8154}}` **shâçâh** (to plunder): This word, meaning to plunder or spoil, establishes the hostile action taken against the people who are then **snared** [[Isaiah 42:22]]. It describes those who act as "spoilers" against Israel when they are disobedient [[Judges 2:14]].
* `{{H2352}}` **chûwr** (hole): This term for a **hole** or crevice is the specific place where the people are **snared** [[Isaiah 42:22]]. It can refer to the crevice of a serpent, emphasizing a place of danger and confinement [[Isaiah 11:8]].
* `{{H2244}}` **châbâʼ** (to hide): Signifying a state of being secreted or hidden, this word describes the consequence of being **snared**. The people are not only trapped but also **hid** in prison houses [[Isaiah 42:22]].
* `{{H5337}}` **nâtsal** (to deliver): This word for snatching away or delivering highlights the desperate situation of those who are **snared**. The verse explicitly states that there is "none" to **deliver** them from their plight [[Isaiah 42:22]], a stark contrast to God's promises to **deliver** His people [[Exodus 3:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6351}}` is drawn entirely from its powerful imagery within Isaiah:
* **A Symbol of Judgment:** To be **snared** illustrates a state of total subjugation. The people are not just defeated but are trapped, becoming "a prey{H957} and a spoil{H4933}" as a consequence of their condition [[Isaiah 42:22]].
* **The Result of Sin:** The surrounding text clarifies that this state is a direct result of disobedience. The Lord gave Jacob "for a spoil{H4933}" because the people sinned against Him and would not walk in His ways [[Isaiah 42:24]]. Being **snared** is thus a metaphor for the entanglement that results from turning away from God.
* **The Need for Divine Restoration:** The passage concludes by noting that "none delivereth{H5337}" and "none saith{H559}, Restore{H7725}" [[Isaiah 42:22]]. This emphasizes that once caught in such a state of judgment, the people are utterly unable to free themselves, pointing to their desperate need for divine intervention.
### Summary
In summary, though found only once, `{{H6351}}` **pâchach** offers a potent and vivid image of being ensnared. Its singular appearance in [[Isaiah 42:22]] places it at the center of a scene of judgment and helplessness, where a plundered people are trapped in holes and prisons. The word powerfully conveys a state of complete vulnerability that results from disobedience and from which there is no human means of escape.
TRV