### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pên**, represented by `{{H6434}}`, denotes an **angle** or **corner**, specifically of a street or wall. This specific term is uncommon, appearing only **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Its meaning is derived from an unused root that suggests the act of turning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two uses of `{{H6434}}` illustrate its function as a specific physical location. In the prophetic vision of a restored Jerusalem, it is mentioned as the "**corner** gate," a key landmark in the city's boundaries [[Zechariah 14:10]]. In a different context, the book of Proverbs uses the word to describe a street **corner** as the location where a person turns to go toward the house of a foolish woman, marking a point of transition from a public way to a place of temptation [[Proverbs 7:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the physical and social environments where a corner exists:
* `{{H7784}}` **shûwq** (street): This word for a public street provides the setting for the corner in Proverbs. The corner is where one turns from the **street**, a common thoroughfare [[Proverbs 7:8]].
* `{{H8179}}` **shaʻar** (gate): A corner is often associated with a city's defenses and entry points. In Zechariah, the "corner **gate**" is a significant part of Jerusalem's structure, highlighting its role in defining the city's layout [[Zechariah 14:10]].
* `{{H1004}}` **bayith** (house): A corner often marks the turn toward a **house**. This can be a physical dwelling, but the term also extends to mean a family or household, as seen in the declaration, "as for me and my **house**, we will serve the LORD" [[Joshua 24:15]].
### Theological Significance
While used sparingly, the significance of `{{H6434}}` is found in its role as a point of definition and transition.
* **Prophetic Landmark:** The "corner gate" in Zechariah is not merely an architectural detail but a boundary marker in a divinely restored and exalted Jerusalem. It helps define the geography of God's holy city in a prophetic context [[Zechariah 14:10]].
* **Moral Turning Point:** In Proverbs, the corner is the physical place where a fateful decision is enacted. It represents the turn from a public path toward a private space of moral compromise, symbolizing a crucial juncture in a person's journey [[Proverbs 7:8]].
* **Structural Definition:** In both occurrences, the corner gives shape to a larger structure, whether it is a city wall or a street layout. It serves as a fixed point that defines boundaries and directs movement within the biblical world.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6434}}` **pên** is a precise term for a **corner**. Its limited use is notable, with one instance establishing it as a key landmark in the prophetic geography of Jerusalem and the other using it as a symbolic turning point in a moral narrative. The word demonstrates how simple architectural features can serve as significant anchors for understanding both physical and spiritual landscapes in scripture.
TRV