### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pâʻam**, represented by `{{H6470}}`, is a primitive root meaning to tap or beat regularly. By extension, it is used more generally to signify being impelled, agitated, moved, or troubled. This evocative term appears **5 times** in **5 unique verses** of the Bible, often describing a significant internal stirring within a person's spirit.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H6470}}` consistently depicts a state of profound agitation. It is used to describe the reaction of powerful rulers to troubling dreams, as when Pharaoh's spirit was **troubled** [[Genesis 41:8]] and when Nebuchadnezzar's spirit was **troubled** by a dream that caused his sleep to break from him ([[Daniel 2:1]], [[Daniel 2:3]]). In a different context, the psalmist expresses such deep personal distress that he is so **troubled** he cannot speak [[Psalms 77:4]]. The word is also used to describe the Spirit of the LORD beginning to **move** Samson, marking the start of his divine empowerment [[Judges 13:25]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the nature and context of the agitation described by `{{H6470}}`:
* `{{H7307}}` **rûwach** (wind... spirit): This word is central, as it is the "spirit" which is most often acted upon. The spirits of both Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar were **troubled** ([[Genesis 41:8]], [[Daniel 2:1]]), and it is the "Spirit of the LORD" that **moves** Samson [[Judges 13:25]].
* `{{H2492}}` **châlam** (to dream): The "troubling" is frequently instigated by a divine dream. This is seen in the accounts of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, whose agitation stems from dreams they cannot understand ([[Genesis 41:8]], [[Daniel 2:3]]).
* `{{H1696}}` **dâbar** (to speak): The internal state of being troubled can have external effects, such as the inability to **speak**, as lamented by the psalmist in his distress [[Psalms 77:4]].
* `{{H2490}}` **châlal** (to begin... wound... profane): This word marks the inception of the action in [[Judges 13:25]], where the Spirit of the LORD **began** to move Samson, indicating a starting point for divine activity.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H6470}}` lies in its function as a catalyst for divine purpose.
* **A Catalyst for Revelation:** The troubling of Pharaoh's and Nebuchadnezzar's spirits was not a meaningless anxiety. It was a state that drove them to seek answers, ultimately leading them to God's messengers and the interpretation of His will ([[Genesis 41:8]], [[Daniel 2:3]]).
* **Divine Impetus:** For Samson, the word denotes a positive stirring. The Spirit of the LORD did not merely exist near him but began to **move** him, actively impelling him toward the destiny God had planned [[Judges 13:25]].
* **Expression of Human Need:** The psalmist's experience shows `{{H6470}}` as a state of profound human anguish. This condition of being so **troubled** that one cannot speak highlights a point of deep need where divine intervention is the only solace [[Psalms 77:4]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6470}}` is a specific and powerful term that conveys more than simple agitation. It describes a profound stirring of the spirit, whether as a response to troubling divine messages or as a direct impelling by the Spirit of God. In every case, this "troubling" or "moving" is not an end in itself but serves as a crucial starting point that moves individuals and events toward a divinely-ordained outcome.
TRV