The Hebrew word tsammîym, represented by H6782, translates as robber. Derived from a root meaning a noose or fastening, it figuratively signifies destruction. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, exclusively in the book of Job.
In its biblical occurrences, H6782 is used to describe an agent of plunder and ruin. In Job, the robber is depicted as one who "swalloweth up" the substance of the wicked, taking a harvest that the hungry have already eaten Job 5:5. The term also appears in the context of a trap, where the robber "shall prevail" against a person who is already caught by the heel in a gin Job 18:9.
Several related words in the surrounding text clarify the actions associated with the robber:
- H2388 châzaq (to seize, be strong, conquer): This word describes how the robber will prevail against someone, signifying an act of overpowering force Job 18:9. In other contexts, it is used positively, as when David encouraged himself in the LORD 1 Samuel 30:6.
- H270 ʼâchaz (to seize): This root conveys the idea of capture and possession. It is used in the passage where a gin is said to take a person by the heel, setting the stage for the robber's attack Job 18:9. It can also describe God's protective grip, as in the Psalm that says "thou hast holden me by my right hand" Psalms 73:23.
- H7602 shâʼaph (to swallow up, devour): This verb vividly illustrates the complete and eager consumption of another's substance by the robber Job 5:5. The same word is used by the psalmist to describe enemies who would daily swallow him up Psalms 56:2.
The theological weight of H6782 is found in its role within the biblical discussion of justice and calamity.
- Agent of Ruin: The robber functions as a personification of the destructive consequences that befall the wicked in Job's discourses. It represents a force that brings about sudden and inescapable ruin Job 18:9.
- Precariousness of Gain: The term highlights the vulnerability of ill-gotten or worldly substance. The robber swallowing a harvest shows that material wealth can be swiftly and completely lost Job 5:5.
- Predatory Destruction: The actions associated with the robber—prevailing H2388 and swallowing up H7602—paint a picture of a predatory power that seeks the downfall of others.
In summary, tsammîym H6782 is a focused and powerful term for a robber. Although it is used only twice, its context within the book of Job provides a stark image of violent plunder and the destructive forces that act as agents of calamity. It serves as a potent symbol of sudden loss and the peril faced by those caught in a web of suffering and consequence.
TRV