### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsâyar**, represented by `{{H6737}}`, describes the act of undertaking an errand or mission under a false pretense, specifically to "make as if...had been ambassador." Based on a denominative from a word meaning ambassador, its definition centers on feigning an official diplomatic role. This highly specific term appears only **1 times** in **1 unique verses** in the entire Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single biblical use of `{{H6737}}` is found in the narrative of the Gibeonites' deception of Israel. In [[Joshua 9:4]], the Gibeonites, fearing for their lives, "did work wilily, and went and **made as if they had been ambassadors**." They presented themselves as envoys from a distant country, a calculated ruse to secure a covenant of peace with Joshua, which would have otherwise been forbidden. The word captures the essence of their mission: a deliberately fabricated diplomatic journey.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words used in the same verse give context to the action of `{{H6737}}`:
* `{{H6213}}` **ʻâsâh** (to do or make): This root word, meaning "to do or make," appears in [[Joshua 9:4]] as "They **did work** wilily." It establishes that the Gibeonites' action was a deliberate, constructed effort.
* `{{H6195}}` **ʻormâh** (trickery): Translated as "wilily" in [[Joshua 9:4]], this term signifies trickery or guile. It explicitly frames the act of feigning an ambassadorship as a deceptive strategy. In other contexts, it can carry a positive sense of prudence [[Proverbs 8:12]].
* `{{H3212}}` **yâlak** (to walk): Meaning to walk or go, this verb appears in [[Joshua 9:4]] as "and **went**." It grounds the abstract idea of their mission in the physical act of journeying, emphasizing that they actively undertook this errand.
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H6737}}` is tied directly to its unique context of strategic deception.
* **A Mission of Deceit:** The word is exclusively used to describe a mission founded on falsehood. The Gibeonites' pretense of being ambassadors was central to their survival plan, highlighting a moment of human cunning and strategy.
* **The Power of Pretense:** Paired with words for "trickery" `{{H6195}}` and "work" `{{H6213}}`, the act of `{{H6737}}` is shown to be an effective performance. Their feigned diplomatic status was convincing enough to lead Joshua and the leaders of Israel into making a binding oath.
* **Diplomacy and Guile:** The term exists at the intersection of diplomacy and deceit. It shows how the forms and functions of an official errand—in this case, an ambassadorship—can be imitated for strategic advantage, as seen in [[Joshua 9:4]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6737}}` is a singular term in the Hebrew Bible that denotes the specific act of feigning the role of an ambassador. Its sole appearance in [[Joshua 9:4]] locks its meaning into a context of cunning, strategy, and successful deception. It illustrates how a precise word can be used to capture the entirety of a complex plan, from the initial "work" of the plot to the "going" on the false errand itself.
TRV