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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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