### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shôbel**, represented by `{{H7640}}`, is used to denote a **leg**. Its base definition suggests a connection to flowing or trailing, as in a lady's train. This word is exceedingly rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{H7640}}` occurs in a prophecy of judgment in [[Isaiah 47:2]]. In this verse, a figure of pride and luxury is commanded to perform humbling acts of servitude: "Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the **leg**, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers." The act of making the **leg** bare is a symbol of disgrace and the loss of noble status, forcing the figure into the demeaning position of a common laborer wading through water.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of this single verse links `{{H7640}}` to several other words that emphasize humiliation and exposure:
* `{{H2834}}` **châsaph** (make bare): This is the verb used directly with **leg** in [[Isaiah 47:2]]. It means to strip off or make naked, often in disgrace. It is also used to describe captives being led away with their buttocks uncovered [[Isaiah 20:4]].
* `{{H1540}}` **gâlâh** (uncover): This primitive root means to denude, especially in a disgraceful sense. In the same verse, it is used to command the uncovering of locks and the thigh, reinforcing the theme of shame and exposure [[Isaiah 47:2]].
* `{{H7785}}` **shôwq** (thigh): This word is used in parallel with **leg** in [[Isaiah 47:2]], creating a fuller picture of the commanded exposure. It can also refer to the shoulder or the lower leg.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7640}}` is derived entirely from its pointed use in prophetic judgment.
* **Symbol of Humiliation:** The command to "make bare the **leg**" serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment that strips away honor and status. It represents a forced descent from a position of ease into one of shame and hardship [[Isaiah 47:2]].
* **Reversal of Pride:** The context involves a reversal of fortunes. The act of baring the leg to cross rivers is part of a judgment against a proud entity, demonstrating that God humbles those who exalt themselves.
* **Imagery of Servitude:** Paired with actions like grinding meal `{{H2912}}`, the baring of the **leg** paints a vivid picture of being reduced to the status of a slave. This imagery communicates the totality of the fall from power.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H7640}}` appears only once, its meaning is clear and impactful. **Shôbel** is not merely an anatomical term but a word charged with theological weight in its sole biblical context. It functions as a key element in a prophetic oracle to illustrate the concepts of divine judgment, the humbling of the proud, and the stripping away of dignity as a consequence of sin.
TRV