### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **rᵉʼîy**, represented by `{{H7209}}`, is a specific term for a **mirror** or **looking glass**. Its significance comes not from frequent use, as it appears only **1 time** in the single verse of [[Job 37:18]], but from its powerful use in a metaphor describing the created world. The word's root is related to the act of seeing, highlighting the reflective nature of the object.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole biblical appearance of `{{H7209}}` is found in a rhetorical question posed to Job, intended to highlight God's immense power in creation. The verse asks, "Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten **looking glass**?" [[Job 37:18]]. Here, the term is not used literally but to create a vivid image of the sky as a vast, solid, and perhaps gleaming surface, similar to a mirror cast from metal.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of [[Job 37:18]] connects `{{H7209}}` to several other important Hebrew words that enrich its meaning:
* `{{H7554}}` **râqaʻ** (spread out): This verb means to expand by hammering or to overlay with thin sheets of metal. It is used to describe God spreading forth the earth [[Isaiah 42:5]] and the heavens, reinforcing the image of a divinely crafted, hammered-out firmament.
* `{{H7834}}` **shachaq** (sky): Defined as a thin vapor or the firmament, this is the object being compared to a looking glass. Scripture uses it to refer to the heavens or clouds [[Psalms 36:5]], which are a canvas for God's power and faithfulness.
* `{{H2389}}` **châzâq** (strong): This adjective describes the sky as strong or hard. It is often used to describe God's "mighty hand" [[Deuteronomy 7:8]] or a "strong wind" [[1 Kings 19:11]], attributing immense durability and power to the created sky.
* `{{H3332}}` **yâtsaq** (molten): This root means to pour out or to cast as metal. Its use here suggests the sky was formed like a cast metal object, giving the "looking glass" a sense of being solid, firm, and flawlessly smooth.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7209}}` is derived entirely from its singular, powerful use in the book of Job.
* **Divine Craftsmanship:** The imagery of a "molten looking glass" that has been "spread out" presents God as a master craftsman, forging the heavens with purpose and immeasurable strength.
* **The Nature of Creation:** This metaphor portrays the sky not as an empty expanse but as a solid, strong, and enduring structure, reflecting the power and permanence of its Creator.
* **Human Limitation:** The question in [[Job 37:18]] uses this grand image to emphasize the gap between God's power and human ability. No human could create such a vast and mighty structure, a fact intended to inspire awe and humility.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7209}}` provides a striking example of how a rarely used word can carry significant theological meaning. Its single appearance as a metaphor for the sky in [[Job 37:18]] offers a profound vision of creation. It paints a picture of the heavens as a strong, solid, mirror-like expanse, forged and spread out by God, serving as a powerful testament to the Creator's unmatched power and artistry.
TRV