### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsâmaq**, represented by `{{H6784}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to dry up; dry**. This specific term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entirety of the biblical text, making its single usage particularly significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H6784}}` is in [[Hosea 9:14]], where the prophet makes a stark plea to God regarding Israel's judgment: "Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and **dry** breasts." In this powerful verse, **tsâmaq** describes breasts that are without milk and unable to provide nourishment. The imagery directly links dryness with barrenness and the cessation of life, portraying a curse that cuts off future generations at their very source.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H6784}}` is intensified by the words surrounding it in its only context:
* `{{H7921}}` **shâkôl** (to miscarry... bereave): This word is paired with a "miscarrying womb" in [[Hosea 9:14]]. It conveys a state of bereavement and loss of children, often as a result of divine judgment [[Jeremiah 15:7]].
* `{{H7358}}` **rechem** (the womb): The womb is typically depicted as a place of divine formation and blessing, where God can grant life [[Genesis 29:31]]. A miscarrying womb is a direct reversal of this creative blessing.
* `{{H7699}}` **shad** (the breast): As a symbol of sustenance and nourishment, breasts are part of God's blessing for fruitfulness [[Genesis 49:25]]. Describing them as **dry** `(tsâmaq)` transforms this symbol of life into one of desolation.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6784}}` is concentrated in its role as an instrument of divine judgment.
* **Reversal of Blessing:** The concept of dryness in [[Hosea 9:14]] stands in direct opposition to God's life-giving nature. God is the one who blesses with the "breasts, and of the womb" [[Genesis 49:25]], and the plea for **dry** breasts is a call for that blessing to be completely revoked.
* **Judgment through Barrenness:** Dryness serves as a powerful metaphor for national judgment. By rendering the breasts useless, it symbolizes the end of sustenance, security, and the continuation of the covenant people.
* **The Nature of Divine Giving:** The verse uses the word `{{H5414}}` **nâthan** ("to give"). While God is often the giver of good things like a new spirit [[Ezekiel 36:26]], the request in [[Hosea 9:14]] is for Him to **give** a curse, demonstrating the severity of Israel's sin and the gravity of the resulting judgment.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H6784}}` appears only once, its impact is profound. The word **tsâmaq** encapsulates a potent form of divine judgment characterized by barrenness and the withdrawal of life-sustaining grace. Its singular use in [[Hosea 9:14]], in conjunction with a miscarrying womb, creates an unforgettable image of a future cut off by the very God who is the source of all life and blessing.
TRV