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 tsinnûwr 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.
The contexts of tsinnûwr 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, tsinnûwr 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.
