a primitive root; to be dull; be set on edge, be blunt.
Transliteration:qâhâh
Pronunciation:kaw-haw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H6949}}` (qâhâh) is a primitive root carrying the core meaning "to be dull," "to be blunt," or "to be set on edge." Its primary semantic range revolves around the loss of sharpness, keenness, or vitality. While it can theoretically apply to a physical object losing its edge (like a blade becoming blunt), its biblical occurrences narrow its specific application. The nuance of "being set on edge" conveys a particularly unpleasant sensory experience, a dulling or grating sensation, especially associated with teeth. This suggests a state of discomfort or diminished capacity resulting from an external stimulus.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root `{{H6949}}` appears exclusively in the Piel stem in the Hebrew Bible, and only in two prophetic passages, both employing the identical idiomatic expression: "the teeth are set on edge" (תִּקְהֶינָה שִׁנֵּי).
1. **[[Jeremiah 31:29-30]]**: "In those days they shall no longer say: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Every man who eats sour grapes, his own teeth shall be set on edge." Here, `{{H6949}}` describes the physical sensation of teeth becoming dull or sensitive from the acidity of "sour grapes." More profoundly, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the theological shift from corporate guilt and inherited consequences to individual accountability. The proverb, which implied that children suffered for their parents' sins, is directly refuted by God's declaration of a new covenant where each person bears responsibility for their own actions. The "setting on edge" of the teeth thus symbolizes the direct, personal experience of the consequences of one's own sin.
2. **[[Ezekiel 18:2]]**: "What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?" Ezekiel, a contemporary of Jeremiah, quotes the very same proverb and then proceeds to dismantle its premise over the course of the chapter. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel emphasizes that God's justice is individual: "The soul who sins shall die" ([[Ezekiel 18:4]]). The use of `{{H6949}}` here again highlights the direct, personal impact of one's own choices, serving as a vivid sensory image for the unpleasant outcome of individual transgression.
In both instances, the word's literal meaning of dulling or blunting is applied to teeth, but its contextual function is entirely metaphorical, serving as a vehicle for a profound theological declaration about individual responsibility before God.
### Related Words & Concepts
Given the highly specific and idiomatic usage of `{{H6949}}`, direct lexical synonyms are scarce. However, several concepts and other Hebrew roots relate to the broader themes conveyed by its usage:
* **Individual Accountability**: The core theological concept conveyed by `{{H6949}}` in its biblical occurrences. This stands in contrast to ideas of inherited guilt or corporate punishment, which are explicitly rejected in the contexts of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
* **Justice (צֶדֶק - `{{H6666}}`)**: The discussions in Jeremiah and Ezekiel are deeply concerned with divine justice, asserting that God's judgment is righteous and precise, administered according to each individual's deeds.
* **Consequences of Sin**: The "teeth being set on edge" is a vivid metaphor for experiencing the direct, unpleasant results of one's own sinful actions.
* **Loss of Sharpness/Clarity**: While `{{H6949}}` applies to physical sensation, other roots like `{{H3584}}` (kaha - to grow dim, faint, or lose luster) share a conceptual link in describing a decline or loss of intensity, though not directly related to moral consequence.
* **Sourness (חָמֵץ - `{{H2556}}` / חֹמֶץ - `{{H2558}}`)**: The "sour grapes" (עֲנָבִים בֹּסֶר) are the cause of the teeth being set on edge, representing the actions or sins that lead to unpleasant consequences.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H6949}}` is profound, despite its limited occurrences. It is the linguistic anchor for one of the most critical shifts in Old Testament theology: the transition from a predominantly corporate understanding of sin and its consequences to an emphasis on individual accountability.
Prior to these prophecies, a common understanding (reflected in the proverb) was that the iniquity of the fathers could be visited upon the children (e.g., [[Exodus 20:5]]). While corporate responsibility remains a biblical theme, Jeremiah and Ezekiel use the vivid image of teeth being "set on edge" by one's *own* sour grapes to unequivocally declare that in the coming new covenant era, each individual will be judged directly for their own actions.
This concept underpins the promise of the new covenant in [[Jeremiah 31:31-34]], where God will write His law on the hearts of individuals, implying a direct, personal relationship and individual responsibility for obedience. The "dulling" or "grating" sensation of the teeth serves as a poignant metaphor for the personal, internal experience of the consequences of one's own choices, underscoring God's righteous and precise justice. It is a powerful affirmation of human agency and the direct relationship between personal conduct and divine judgment.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H6949}}` (qâhâh), meaning "to be dull," "blunt," or "set on edge," is used exclusively in the Old Testament to describe teeth being "set on edge" by sour grapes. Found only in [[Jeremiah 31:29-30]] and [[Ezekiel 18:2]], this vivid idiom serves as a crucial theological metaphor. It marks a pivotal shift from the concept of inherited guilt to a strong emphasis on individual accountability before God. The unpleasant sensation of teeth being dulled or grated by one's own actions symbolizes the direct, personal experience of the consequences of one's own sin. Thus, `{{H6949}}` is intrinsically linked to the prophetic declaration of God's individual justice and the promise of a new covenant grounded in personal responsibility.
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