### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **sîyd**, represented by `{{H7875}}`, refers to **lime** or **plaister**. Its base definition suggests a substance created through a process of boiling, like when lime is slaked. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses**, illustrating its specific and potent applications in scripture.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H7875}}` is used in two distinct contexts: construction and destruction. For construction, God commands the Israelites after they cross the Jordan to set up large stones and cover them with **plaister** `{{H7875}}` [[Deuteronomy 27:2]]. This act is repeated on Mount Ebal, preparing a surface for God's law to be written [[Deuteronomy 27:4]]. Conversely, it signifies destruction when the prophet Amos condemns Moab for burning the bones of the king of Edom into **lime** `{{H7875}}` [[Amos 2:1]]. It is also used metaphorically for judgment in Isaiah, where people will become "as the burnings of **lime**" [[Isaiah 33:12]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context and meaning of `{{H7875}}`:
* `{{H7874}}` **sîyd**: This is the verb form meaning "to plaster." It is used directly alongside `{{H7875}}` in the command to **plaister** the stones set up as a memorial ([[Deuteronomy 27:2]], [[Deuteronomy 27:4]]).
* `{{H8313}}` **sâraph**: A primitive root meaning "to be on fire" or "burn." This word describes the specific desecrating action taken by Moab when they **burned** the bones of a king into lime [[Amos 2:1]].
* `{{H4955}}` **misrâphâh**: This noun for "combustion" or "burning" is used in Isaiah's prophecy to describe the state of the people under judgment, directly linking them to the **burnings** of lime [[Isaiah 33:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7875}}` is found in its contrasting applications.
* **Sacred Covenant:** As **plaister**, the substance is part of a divine command to create a lasting monument. The plastered stones on Mount Ebal serve as a public witness to God's law, binding the people of Israel in covenant with Him [[Deuteronomy 27:4]].
* **Desecration and Judgment:** As **lime**, the substance is the result of a profane act of desecration against a human body, an act so severe it provokes God's judgment [[Amos 2:1]]. It also becomes a symbol for the intensity of divine wrath, where the wicked are utterly consumed as if by fire until only a calcined residue remains [[Isaiah 33:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7875}}` is a powerful word whose meaning is defined by its use. As **plaister**, it is an agent of sacred construction and remembrance, used to display the very words of God. As **lime**, it is the end product of desecration and a stark metaphor for the totality of divine judgment. The word demonstrates how a single substance can represent both holy obedience and the consequences of profound transgression.
TRV