### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **raʻal**, represented by `{{H7478}}`, describes a **reeling** or **trembling**, often associated with intoxication. It is a highly specific term, appearing only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. Its singular use provides a potent metaphor for a state of divinely induced confusion and helplessness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H7478}}` occurs in the prophecy of [[Zechariah 12:2]]. In this verse, God declares He will make Jerusalem "a cup of **trembling** unto all the people round about." This imagery is set within the context of a **siege** `{{H4692}}` against both Judah and Jerusalem. The word is not used to describe the fear of Jerusalem's inhabitants, but rather the debilitating effect Jerusalem will have on its enemies, causing them to stagger as if they were intoxicated.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context help clarify its meaning:
* `{{H7760}}` **sûwm** (to put, make): This primitive root signifies God's direct and purposeful action. Just as God declares He will **put** His words in a prophet's mouth [[Isaiah 59:21]], He will **make** Jerusalem the source of this trembling [[Zechariah 12:2]].
* `{{H5592}}` **çaph** (cup, bowl, threshold): This word serves as the vessel for the trembling. While used as **cup** in the primary verse, it can also refer to a **threshold** or door **post**, a physical limit or boundary that must be crossed ([[Ezekiel 40:6]], [[Amos 9:1]]).
* `{{H4692}}` **mâtsôwr** (siege, fortress, defence): This word establishes the military context of conflict and distress. The trembling occurs while a **siege** is laid against Jerusalem [[Zechariah 12:2]], a situation also described in prophecies of judgment [[Micah 5:1]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7478}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful use.
* **Divine Reversal:** The word illustrates God's power to reverse a situation. Jerusalem, the city under **siege** `{{H4692}}`, becomes the very instrument of its attackers' downfall.
* **Judgment as Intoxication:** The metaphor of a "cup of **trembling**" frames divine judgment as a force that disorients and incapacitates God's enemies, leaving them reeling and unable to stand.
* **God's Sovereignty:** The prophecy emphasizes that it is God Himself who will **make** `{{H7760}}` Jerusalem this cup [[Zechariah 12:2]]. The event is not an accident of history but a deliberate act of divine power and protection for His people.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7478}}` is a rare but vivid term that carries significant theological meaning. Its solitary use in [[Zechariah 12:2]] transforms the physical act of reeling into a powerful metaphor for divine judgment. It demonstrates how God can turn a place of apparent weakness—a city under siege—into the very source of confusion and collapse for its enemies, showcasing His ultimate sovereignty and power.
TRV