### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pâtsam**, represented by `{{H6480}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to rend (by earthquake); break**. This powerful but rare term appears only **1 time** in a single verse in the entire Bible, highlighting a specific and dramatic act of divine power.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{H6480}}` is found in a moment of crisis and prayer. In [[Psalms 60:2]], the psalmist declares to God, "Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast **broken** it." The word describes a cataclysmic event where the very land is rent apart, an action directly attributed to God. This breaking is presented alongside the earth trembling and shaking, illustrating a state of profound instability and ruin that prompts an immediate plea for divine intervention.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of `{{H6480}}` in [[Psalms 60:2]] is enriched by several surrounding words:
* `{{H7493}}` **râʻash** (to... tremble): This word appears in the same verse and describes the violent shaking that accompanies the breaking of the earth. It is often used to depict the physical response of creation to God's presence or wrath [[Jeremiah 10:10]].
* `{{H7667}}` **sheber** (fracture, breach): This noun describes the direct result of the action of `pâtsam`. The psalmist asks God to heal the "breaches" or fractures created when the earth was broken [[Psalms 60:2]].
* `{{H7495}}` **râphâʼ** (to... heal): Presented as the remedy for the breaking, this verb signifies the restoration needed after the destruction. Its use in [[Psalms 60:2]] creates a powerful contrast between God's ability to rend and His ability to cure.
* `{{H4131}}` **môwṭ** (to... shake, fall): This word describes the consequence of the breaking, stating that the earth "shaketh" [[Psalms 60:2]]. It conveys a sense of instability and being out of course.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H6480}}` is concentrated in its single appearance:
* **Divine Power over Creation:** The use of `pâtsam` showcases God's absolute sovereignty over the physical world. He is depicted not only as the creator of the earth `{{H776}}` [[Genesis 1:1]] but also as the one who can make it tremble `{{H7493}}` and break it [[Psalms 60:2]].
* **An Expression of Judgment:** The violent rending of the land is a clear metaphor for divine judgment. The breaking of the earth is a physical manifestation of God's displeasure, an act so severe that it destabilizes the very foundation of the land.
* **The Prelude to Healing:** Critically, the act of breaking `{{H6480}}` is immediately followed by a plea for healing `{{H7495}}`. This juxtaposition in [[Psalms 60:2]] frames God's judgment not as a final state, but as a crisis that necessitates a turn back to God for restoration, highlighting that the one who has the power to break is also the only one with the power to make whole.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6480}}` is a highly specific term whose singular biblical usage provides a vivid image of divine power and judgment. Though rare, **pâtsam** captures the awesome ability of God to rend the very earth. Its context within [[Psalms 60:2]] is crucial, as the breaking is not an isolated act of destruction but the direct precursor to a cry for divine healing, illustrating a profound biblical theme of judgment and the subsequent hope for restoration.
TRV