### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shûwʻâl**, represented by `{{H7776}}`, refers to a **jackal** or **fox**. It appears 7 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible. While it can denote the literal animal, it is more often used as a powerful symbol for destruction, cunning, and the desolation that results from judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H7776}}` appears in both literal and figurative contexts. The most direct use is in the account of Samson, who **caught** three hundred **foxes** to carry out a plan of massive destruction against the Philistines' crops [[Judges 15:4]]. Figuratively, it illustrates utter ruin, as when the desolate mountain of Zion is described as a place where **foxes** walk [[Lamentations 5:18]]. The term is also used as a metaphor for false prophets, who are likened to **foxes** in the deserts [[Ezekiel 13:4]], and as a taunt by Tobiah, who claimed even a single **fox** could break down the wall of Jerusalem [[Nehemiah 4:3]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used in direct connection with the actions or effects of the **fox**:
* `{{H3920}}` **lâkad** (to catch): This root is used to describe Samson's act of capturing the animals for his plan, as he went and **caught** three hundred foxes [[Judges 15:4]].
* `{{H2254}}` **châbal** (to... destroy; ...spoil): This term describes the ruinous impact of the "little **foxes**" that **spoil** the vines [[Song of Solomon 2:15]], highlighting how seemingly small things can cause great damage.
* `{{H6555}}` **pârats** (to break... down): In his mockery, Tobiah uses this word to claim that if a **fox** were to go up on the wall Nehemiah was building, it would **break down** their stone wall [[Nehemiah 4:3]].
### Theological Significance
The symbolic weight of `{{H7776}}` is significant, often conveying themes of judgment and collapse.
* **Symbol of Desolation and Judgment:** The presence of **foxes** signifies a land abandoned to ruin. Their walking on Mount Zion illustrates the city's forsaken state [[Lamentations 5:18]], and the wicked becoming a "portion for **foxes**" is a curse of utter defeat and desecration [[Psalms 63:10]].
* **Metaphor for Corrupt Leadership:** False prophets are compared to **foxes** in the desert, suggesting they are wily, self-serving, and bring ruin rather than guidance [[Ezekiel 13:4]].
* **Agent of Destructive Influence:** The word is used to represent sources of ruin, whether as a literal instrument of destruction in Samson's hands [[Judges 15:4]] or as a metaphor for the subtle but damaging influences that "spoil the vines" [[Song of Solomon 2:15]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7776}}` is far more than a simple name for an animal. It is a recurring biblical symbol of desolation, cunning, and destruction. It illustrates how a single word can carry layers of meaning, from the literal creature used by Samson to a powerful metaphor for the spiritual ruin of a nation and the deceptive nature of its enemies.
TRV