The Hebrew word tsinnûwr, represented by H6794, is a specific term for a gutter or water-spout. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The word's base definition suggests a hollow object, and its scriptural usage points to its function as a channel or culvert.
The two appearances of H6794 illustrate its distinct meanings. In Psalms 42:7, it is translated as waterspouts in a context of overwhelming distress, where "deep calleth unto deep" and God's waves and billows go over the psalmist. In 2 Samuel 5:8, the word is rendered as gutter and describes a water channel used as a strategic point of entry for David's forces to smite the Jebusites in their stronghold. This use highlights its role as a physical conduit in a military conquest.
Several related words illuminate the contexts in which tsinnûwr is found:
- H8415 tᵉhôwm (an abyss... the deep): This word is used alongside tsinnûwr to describe the source of overwhelming waters, as in "deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts" Psalms 42:7.
- H5060 nâgaʻ (properly, to touch... to reach... violently, to strike): In David's command, this word describes the action of getting up to or reaching the gutter, highlighting the channel as a point of access for a military strike 2 Samuel 5:8.
- H5221 nâkâh (to strike): This term is used for the action to be taken once the gutter is reached, to "smite the Jebusites," directly linking the channel to an act of violent conquest 2 Samuel 5:8.
- H1530 gal (a spring of water... billow, heap, spring, wave): Paired with H6794 in Psalms 42:7, these are the "billows" that, along with the waves, go over the psalmist, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the water associated with the waterspouts.
The contexts of H6794 reveal its significance as more than just a physical object.
- Conduit of Overwhelming Power: In Psalms 42:7, the "waterspouts" are part of an overwhelming scene where "deep calleth unto deep" and the psalmist is overcome by waves and billows. This portrays a channel for immense, unstoppable force.
- Passageway for Strategic Action: The "gutter" in 2 Samuel 5:8 serves as a tactical channel, allowing David's men to access a fortified city and "smite the Jebusites," demonstrating its role as a means to achieve a specific, earthly objective.
- Instrument of Divine and Human Will: The term is associated with both divine power ("thy waterspouts" in Psalms 42:7) and human command (David's order in 2 Samuel 5:8). It functions as the means through which a higher will—whether God's or a king's—is executed.
In summary, H6794 is a rare but potent word. While its literal definition is a simple gutter or water-spout, its two biblical uses give it significant weight. It represents a channel, a hollow passage that can either unleash an overwhelming force of nature as seen in the Psalms or provide a strategic path for military conquest as recorded in 2 Samuel. Through these contexts, tsinnûwr illustrates how a physical structure can symbolize a conduit for both immense trial and decisive action.
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