### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H7140}}` (qerach), also appearing as qorah, derives from the root `{{H7139}}` (qarach), meaning "to be bald," "to be smooth," or "to be clear." This etymological connection is crucial, as it informs the primary semantic range of `{{H7140}}`. Its most common and literal meaning is "ice," referring to frozen water. The association with "baldness" or "smoothness" aptly describes the surface of ice.
From this core meaning, the word extends to encompass related phenomena:
* **Frost:** A form of ice, often appearing as a thin, crystalline layer.
* **Hail:** Frozen precipitation, which, like ice, is hard and cold.
* **Crystal:** Specifically, "rock crystal," due to its resemblance to ice in terms of clarity, transparency, and often, its smooth facets. This usage highlights the visual properties of the word.
Thus, `{{H7140}}` denotes a substance characterized by its coldness, hardness, smoothness, and often, its transparency or crystalline structure.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H7140}}` appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, but each instance offers significant contextual insight:
* **[[Genesis 31:40]]**: In Jacob's recounting of his hardships under Laban, he states, "By day the heat consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes." Here, `{{H7140}}` (rendered as "frost") emphasizes the extreme and harsh conditions Jacob endured, highlighting human vulnerability to the elements.
* **[[Job 6:16]]**: Job describes deceitful friends as "like wadis that overflow in winter, like torrents of melting ice." This verse uses `{{H7140}}` (ice) to illustrate something that is present but quickly vanishes, suggesting transience or unreliability. The melting ice forms a torrent, implying a sudden, powerful, yet ephemeral force.
* **[[Job 38:29]]**: As part of God's rhetorical questions to Job, demonstrating divine sovereignty over creation, God asks, "From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the hoarfrost of heaven?" Here, `{{H7140}}` (ice) is paired with `{{H3713}}` (kefor, "hoarfrost"), underscoring God's absolute control over natural phenomena that are beyond human comprehension or manipulation.
* **[[Psalm 147:17]]**: This psalm extols God's power over nature: "He casts forth His ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold?" Again, `{{H7140}}` (ice) is a direct manifestation of God's majestic power, scattered effortlessly, emphasizing His omnipotence and the overwhelming nature of His creation.
* **[[Ezekiel 1:22]]**: This is perhaps the most profound usage. Describing the visionary firmament above the living creatures, Ezekiel writes, "Now over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, like the color of awesome crystal, stretched forth over their heads." Here, `{{H7140}}` (crystal) transcends its mundane meaning. The phrase "awesome crystal" (כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא) denotes a substance of unparalleled clarity, brilliance, and terrifying majesty, serving as the foundation for the divine throne. It signifies purity, transparency, and the overwhelming glory of God's presence.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for `{{H7140}}` is its root, `{{H7139}}` (qarach), which means "to be bald," "to be smooth," or "to be clear." This root connection illuminates the physical attributes of ice and crystal.
Other related concepts and words include:
* **`{{H3713}}` (kefor)**: "Hoarfrost," often appearing alongside `{{H7140}}` in poetic and descriptive contexts, as seen in [[Job 38:29]]. This pairing suggests a nuanced distinction between general ice/frost and the specific form of hoarfrost.
* **Water (`{{H4325}}` mayim)**: As ice is a frozen form of water, there is an inherent connection to this fundamental element.
* **Cold and Hardship**: As seen in [[Genesis 31:40]], `{{H7140}}` can symbolize severe environmental conditions and human endurance.
* **Divine Power and Sovereignty**: Its use in Job and Psalms highlights God's absolute control over the natural world.
* **Purity, Clarity, and Awe**: The most significant conceptual link, particularly in Ezekiel, where `{{H7140}}` describes the unblemished, awe-inspiring, and transparent nature of the divine realm. The "awesome crystal" speaks to a transcendent beauty and holiness.
* **Transience**: In [[Job 6:16]], the melting ice symbolizes that which is fleeting or unreliable.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7140}}` is multifaceted, reflecting both the physical realities of the natural world and profound spiritual truths.
Firstly, `{{H7140}}` serves as a powerful testament to **Divine Sovereignty and Omnipotence**. In passages like [[Job 38:29]] and [[Psalm 147:17]], God is depicted as the sole originator and controller of ice and frost. These elements, which are beyond human control and often pose challenges, are effortlessly commanded by the Creator. This underscores God's absolute mastery over all creation, highlighting His power, wisdom, and unchallengeable authority.
Secondly, the mention of "frost by night" in [[Genesis 31:40]] speaks to **Human Vulnerability and Endurance**. Jacob's experience illustrates the harsh realities of life and the physical toll of hardship. In this context, `{{H7140}}` symbolizes the unforgiving aspects of the created order, reminding humanity of its dependence on divine provision and protection.
Most profoundly, in [[Ezekiel 1:22]], `{{H7140}}` takes on a **Symbolic Representation of Divine Glory and Purity**. The "awesome crystal" (קֶרַח הַנּוֹרָא) of the firmament above the cherubim is not merely descriptive of a physical substance but evokes the very essence of God's presence. Its qualities of clarity, transparency, and brilliance signify:
* **Unblemished Purity**: The unclouded nature of crystal suggests God's absolute holiness and moral perfection.
* **Transcendent Majesty**: The "awesome" (נּוֹרָא) aspect points to the overwhelming, fearful, yet glorious nature of God, who is beyond full human comprehension.
* **Divine Order and Stability**: The firmament, likened to crystal, serves as a foundation for the divine throne, suggesting the unshakeable order and steadfastness of God's rule.
* **Revelation and Concealment**: While clear, the "awesome crystal" also maintains a certain distance and inaccessibility, indicating that God's glory is both revealed and simultaneously veiled in its overwhelming splendor, protecting the finite from the infinite.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H7140}}` (qerach) fundamentally denotes "ice," drawing its meaning from the root "to be smooth" or "clear." Its semantic range extends to include frost, hail, and rock crystal, emphasizing qualities of coldness, hardness, smoothness, and transparency. Biblically, `{{H7140}}` illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over nature, as seen in His control over ice and frost ([[Job 38:29]], [[Psalm 147:17]]). It also highlights human vulnerability to the elements ([[Genesis 31:40]]) and the transient nature of certain earthly phenomena ([[Job 6:16]]). Most significantly, in [[Ezekiel 1:22]], `{{H7140}}` transcends its literal meaning to describe the "awesome crystal" of the divine firmament. Here, it functions as a profound symbol of God's unblemished purity, transcendent majesty, and the awe-inspiring clarity of His glorious presence, serving as a foundational element in the visual theology of the divine throne. Through its varied uses, `{{H7140}}` contributes to a rich biblical understanding of both the physical world and the ineffable nature of God.
TRV