### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **sêk**, represented by `{{H7899}}`, is a term for a **prick** or brier. Appearing only **1 times** in **1 unique verses**, its significance comes from its specific, pointed usage. The word is derived from a root associated with a brier or hedge, emphasizing its sharp and vexing nature.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its sole biblical appearance, `{{H7899}}` is used metaphorically to describe a source of constant irritation and trouble. The warning in [[Numbers 33:55]] states that any inhabitants of the land Israel fails to drive out will become **pricks** in their eyes. This phrase is paired with the parallel image of "thorns in your sides" [[Numbers 33:55]], reinforcing the idea that the remaining inhabitants will become a source of pain and vexation for Israel in the very land they are meant to possess.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context illuminate the meaning of `{{H7899}}`:
* `{{H6796}}` **tsânîyn** (thorn): This word appears alongside `{{H7899}}` in [[Numbers 33:55]], creating a parallel image of pain and irritation: "**pricks** in your eyes, and **thorns** in your sides." A similar warning using this word is found in [[Joshua 23:13]].
* `{{H6887}}` **tsârar** (to cramp, afflict, vex): This verb describes the ultimate consequence of allowing the inhabitants to remain. They will not just be a passive nuisance but will actively **vex** the Israelites in their land [[Numbers 33:55]].
* `{{H3498}}` **yâthar** (to remain or be left): This word establishes the condition that leads to judgment. The warning applies specifically to "those which ye let **remain** of them" [[Numbers 33:55]], highlighting that the affliction is a direct result of incomplete obedience.
* `{{H5869}}` **ʻayin** (an eye): The metaphor of a **prick** is made more vivid by its location: "in your **eyes**" [[Numbers 33:55]]. This points to a deeply personal, unavoidable, and painful form of trouble.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7899}}` is concentrated in its single, potent use as a metaphor for the consequences of compromise.
* **The Danger of Incomplete Obedience:** The warning in [[Numbers 33:55]] uses `{{H7899}}` to illustrate that failing to fully follow God's command—in this case, to **drive out** `{{H3423}}` the inhabitants—will result in self-inflicted pain. The "pricks" are the direct result of what the Israelites "let **remain**" `{{H3498}}`.
* **Persistent Affliction:** The image of a **prick** in the **eye** `{{H5869}}` suggests a constant, irritating, and painful presence. It represents how spiritual compromise leads to ongoing strife and distress within the very place of blessing, the **land** `{{H776}}` promised to them.
* **Tangible Consequences of Spiritual Failure:** The use of `{{H7899}}` connects a spiritual failure (disobedience) to a tangible metaphor of pain. The inhabitants who are not driven out will eventually **vex** `{{H6887}}` Israel, showing that unaddressed sin and compromise manifest as real-world adversity.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7899}}` **sêk**, while rare, offers a powerful and unforgettable metaphor. It is not just a label for a brier but a symbol of the sharp, persistent pain that arises from incomplete obedience. Its singular appearance in [[Numbers 33:55]], alongside related terms for thorns and vexation, serves as a stark warning. The word illustrates how compromise with what God has commanded to be removed inevitably becomes a source of ongoing affliction and trouble.
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