a primitive root; also denominative from קִיר; to trench; by implication, to throw forth; to wall up, whether literal (to build a wall) or figurative (to estop); break down, cast out, destroy, dig.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **qûwr**, represented by `{{H6979}}`, is a primitive root with a range of meanings related to forceful action. Its definitions include to trench, throw forth, wall up, break down, cast out, destroy, and dig. It appears **6 times** across **5 unique verses**, demonstrating its use in both literal and figurative contexts of destruction and creation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H6979}}` conveys power and significant change. In a prophecy concerning Israel's future, it is used to mean **destroy**, stating that a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel and **destroy** all the children of Sheth [[Numbers 24:17]]. In a message of judgment against Jerusalem, the word is used twice metaphorically, comparing the city's unending production of evil to a fountain that continually **casteth out** its waters [[Jeremiah 6:7]]. The word is also used to describe the literal act of an invading king boasting, "I have **digged**, and drunk strange waters" ([[2 Kings 19:24]], [[Isaiah 37:25]]). Finally, it describes the chaos of divine judgment as a day of " **breaking** down the walls" [[Isaiah 22:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used in conjunction with `{{H6979}}`, highlighting its thematic connections to power, destruction, and action:
* `{{H6965}}` **qûwm** (to rise): This word describes the emergence of the authority that will carry out the destructive act of `{{H6979}}`. A Sceptre shall **rise** out of Israel and **destroy** Moab's corners [[Numbers 24:17]].
* `{{H4272}}` **mâchats** (to dash asunder; by implication, to crush, smash or violently plunge): It appears directly before `{{H6979}}` in the prophecy of [[Numbers 24:17]], where the Sceptre from Israel shall **smite** the corners of Moab and **destroy** the children of Sheth, linking `{{H6979}}` to violent conquest.
* `{{H4001}}` **mᵉbûwçâh** (a trampling; treading down): This term is found in the same context of divine judgment as `{{H6979}}`, describing a day of **treading down** from the Lord that involves the **breaking** down of walls [[Isaiah 22:5]].
* `{{H2717}}` **chârab** (to parch... desolate, destroy, kill): In the boast of the Assyrian king, this word is paired with `{{H6979}}`. The king claims he has **digged** for water and also **dried up** rivers with his feet, showing a complete mastery over the land ([[Isaiah 37:25]], [[2 Kings 19:24]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6979}}` is tied to its depiction of overwhelming force, whether human or divine.
* **Prophetic Judgment:** The word is a key component in the prophecy of Balaam, where it signifies the divinely ordained power of Israel's future king to **destroy** enemies [[Numbers 24:17]]. It is also used by Isaiah to describe the effects of a "day of trouble" from the Lord, which includes the **breaking** down of a city's defenses [[Isaiah 22:5]].
* **Human Arrogance:** The word is placed in the mouth of an arrogant foreign king who boasts of his own might. His claim to have **digged** for water and conquered represents human pride set against God's ultimate authority ([[2 Kings 19:24]], [[Isaiah 37:25]]).
* **Pervasive Sin:** In Jeremiah's lament, `{{H6979}}` is used to illustrate the moral state of Jerusalem. The city actively **casteth out** wickedness, not to get rid of it, but as a spring constantly produces water. This provides a powerful image of a culture saturated with sin [[Jeremiah 6:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6979}}` is a dynamic word used to convey acts of significant force. Its meaning shifts with its context, from the literal act of digging a well to the military act of breaking down walls and destroying a people. Whether describing the boast of a king [[Isaiah 37:25]], the moral corruption of a city [[Jeremiah 6:7]], or the execution of divine judgment [[Numbers 24:17]], **qûwr** consistently points to a powerful, transformative, and often destructive action.
TRV