### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **rᵉvâchâh**, represented by `{{H7309}}`, signifies **relief**, **breathing**, or **respite**. It appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, where it denotes a pause from affliction or a plea for life itself.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word's usage highlights two distinct scenarios. In Exodus, it describes an external event where Pharaoh `{{H6547}}` **saw** `{{H7200}}` that there was **respite** from the plagues, which prompted him to **harden** `{{H3513}}` his heart [[Exodus 8:15]]. In contrast, Lamentations uses the term in a deeply personal prayer, where the speaker asks God not to hide His ear from his **breathing** `{{H7309}}`, linking it directly to his cry for help [[Lamentations 3:56]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context clarify its meaning:
* `{{H6547}}` **Parʻôh** (Pharaoh): This title refers to the Egyptian king who observed the **respite** but refused to obey God's command, demonstrating that relief does not guarantee repentance [[Exodus 8:15]].
* `{{H3513}}` **kâbad** (to be heavy, harden): This verb describes Pharaoh's reaction to the **respite**. Instead of softening his heart, the relief caused him to **harden** it, making it heavy and unresponsive [[Exodus 8:15]].
* `{{H8085}}` **shâmaʻ** (to hear intelligently): This word appears in both contexts. Pharaoh did not **hearken** `{{H8085}}` despite the relief [[Exodus 8:15]], while the lamenter's hope is that God has **heard** `{{H8085}}` his plea [[Lamentations 3:56]].
* `{{H7775}}` **shavʻâh** (crying): This term for a desperate **cry** is paired with **breathing** `{{H7309}}`, illustrating that the very breath of the afflicted is a form of outcry to God [[Lamentations 3:56]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7309}}` is centered on the human response to divine action.
* **Respite as a Test:** The account in Exodus demonstrates that a period of **respite** can be a test of the heart. For Pharaoh, this pause in judgment did not lead to submission but to a renewed hardening of his will [[Exodus 8:15]].
* **Breathing as Prayer:** In Lamentations, **breathing** is depicted as a profound and elemental form of prayer, a desperate appeal for life when one is overwhelmed. It is a cry `{{H7775}}` for God not to hide `{{H5956}}` His ear `{{H241}}` [[Lamentations 3:56]].
* **Conditional Relief:** The two uses together suggest that while God may grant temporary **respite**, true relief is tied to the posture of the heart—whether one hardens it like Pharaoh or cries out in dependence like the author of Lamentations.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7309}}` is a rare but significant word that encapsulates the concept of a temporary pause from distress. It is used to describe both a break in God's judgment and the very breath of a person crying out for salvation. It powerfully illustrates that a moment of **respite** is a critical spiritual juncture, revealing the true orientation of the human heart toward God.
TRV