### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shophkâh**, represented by `{{H8212}}`, is a highly specific term for the **privy member**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, indicating its narrow and specialized use in scripture. The base definition describes it as a pipe for pouring forth, a feminine derivative from the verb to pour, which is used to identify the penis.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H8212}}` appears in the Mosaic Law, establishing a specific condition for inclusion in the formal community of Israel. In [[Deuteronomy 23:1]], the law states that a man who "hath his **privy member** cut off" is barred from entering the congregation of the LORD. This places the word squarely within a legal context concerning physical integrity and the qualifications for participation in the assembly.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in the verse clarify the context of this ordinance:
* `{{H6481}}` **pâtsaʻ** (wound): This root word for being wounded is used in the first clause of the same verse to describe one who is "wounded in the stones" [[Deuteronomy 23:1]].
* `{{H1795}}` **dakkâh** (wounded): Used alongside `{{H6481}}`, this term specifies a mutilation, translated as "wounded" in the phrase that directly precedes the mention of the privy member [[Deuteronomy 23:1]].
* `{{H3772}}` **kârath** (to cut): This is the action performed on the privy member. While it means to "cut off" in this context [[Deuteronomy 23:1]], it is also the same root verb used throughout scripture for making or "cutting" a covenant ([[Genesis 15:18]], [[Jeremiah 31:31]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8212}}` is derived entirely from its singular legal context.
* **Congregational Purity:** The law in which this word appears establishes a standard of physical wholeness as a prerequisite for entering the "congregation of the LORD," linking physical integrity to access to the formal assembly.
* **Prohibition of Mutilation:** The specific injury—having the privy member cut off—points to a prohibition against emasculation, a practice that would prevent procreation and the continuation of a lineage, which was a key part of God's covenant promises.
* **Defining the Assembly:** This ordinance is part of a larger set of laws that define the boundaries and qualifications for membership within the covenant community of Israel under the Mosaic Law.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8212}}` is a precise anatomical term with a very limited application. Its sole appearance in [[Deuteronomy 23:1]] is significant, as it contributes to the legal framework governing physical requirements for participation in Israel's sacred assembly. The word underscores a principle of physical wholeness as a qualification for formal inclusion in the congregation under the Old Covenant.