### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shûwph**, represented by `{{H7779}}`, is a primitive root with a range of figurative meanings including to overwhelm, break, bruise, or cover. It appears **4 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible, indicating its specific and impactful usage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H7779}}` is used in several distinct contexts to convey overwhelming force. In its most prominent appearance, it describes the reciprocal conflict declared in Eden, where the seed of the woman will **bruise** the serpent's head, and the serpent will **bruise** his heel [[Genesis 3:15]]. In the Psalms, the word is used to describe the feeling of being enveloped or **covered** by darkness [[Psalms 139:11]]. Job uses it to express being broken by affliction, stating God **breaketh** him with a tempest and multiplieth his wounds [[Job 9:17]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the contexts where `{{H7779}}` is found:
* `{{H342}}` **ʼêybâh** (hostility; emnity, hatred): This word establishes the state of conflict in which the "bruising" occurs. It is the **enmity** God will put between the serpent and the woman [[Genesis 3:15]].
* `{{H7218}}` **rôʼsh** (the head): This signifies the target of the decisive blow in [[Genesis 3:15]], representing a place of authority, a beginning, or a chief part. The seed of the woman will bruise the serpent's **head**.
* `{{H6119}}` **ʻâqêb** (a heel): This represents the point of attack against the woman's seed, signifying a track or the rear. The serpent, in turn, will bruise his **heel** [[Genesis 3:15]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7779}}` is concentrated in its specific applications:
* **Primal Conflict:** In [[Genesis 3:15]], the mutual "bruising" establishes a foundational theme of cosmic conflict. The action against the **head** `{{H7218}}` implies a fatal or decisive blow, while the action against the **heel** `{{H6119}}` implies a wound that is painful but not final.
* **Divine Sovereignty in Suffering:** Job's use of the word portrays a sense of being broken or overwhelmed by a **tempest** `{{H8183}}` from God [[Job 9:17]]. This highlights the tension between divine power and human suffering.
* **Omnipresence of God:** In Psalms, the psalmist considers that even if **darkness** `{{H2822}}` were to **cover** `{{H7779}}` him, it would be as **light** `{{H216}}` to God [[Psalms 139:11]]. The attempt to be overwhelmed or hidden is negated by God's presence.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7779}}` **shûwph** is a potent and versatile word. Though used sparingly, its applications are profound, ranging from the declaration of primordial **enmity** `{{H342}}` and conflict in Genesis to the personal experience of being broken by suffering in Job and the impossibility of being **covered** from God's sight in Psalms. It demonstrates how a single root can articulate concepts of attack, affliction, and overwhelming presence.
TRV