### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shârâb**, represented by `{{H8273}}`, refers to **parched ground** or **heat**. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The term originates from a root word meaning "to glare" and conveys the idea of a mirage or the quivering glow of air over a sun-scorched landscape, symbolizing intense, arid conditions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H8273}}` consistently appears in prophetic promises of divine relief and restoration. It is used to describe a harsh environment from which God will protect His people, promising that "neither shall the **heat** nor sun smite them" [[Isaiah 49:10]]. The word also functions as a symbol of desolation that will be miraculously transformed, as prophesied that "the **parched ground** shall become a pool" [[Isaiah 35:7]]. In both instances, it represents a state of hardship that God will reverse.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help frame the context of extreme need and divine provision associated with **shârâb**:
* `{{H7456}}` **râʻêb** (to hunger): This word appears alongside `{{H8273}}` to describe the physical deprivations from which God promises deliverance, stating His people "shall not **hunger** nor thirst" [[Isaiah 49:10]].
* `{{H6770}}` **tsâmêʼ** (to thirst): Often paired with hunger, this term for thirst completes the picture of suffering in the wilderness, a condition God promises to alleviate for those He guides [[Isaiah 49:10]].
* `{{H6774}}` **tsimmâʼôwn** (a thirsty place, i.e. desert): This noun describes a location of extreme dryness and is used in parallel with `{{H8273}}` to emphasize the totality of the land's transformation into a place of abundant water [[Isaiah 35:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H8273}}` is centered on God's power to redeem and restore.
* **Promise of Divine Protection:** The word is used to illustrate God's merciful care. He pledges to shield His followers from the destructive "heat," showing that His guidance provides a safe path through otherwise unbearable trials [[Isaiah 49:10]].
* **Symbol of Radical Transformation:** The image of "parched ground" becoming a pool is a powerful metaphor for God's ability to bring life out of desolation. It points to a future where barrenness is utterly reversed by divine intervention [[Isaiah 35:7]].
* **Contrast between Desolation and Provision:** In both its uses, `{{H8273}}` establishes a stark contrast between a state of lack and God's abundant supply. The "heat" is answered with guidance to "springs of water," highlighting God's nature as the ultimate provider.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8273}}` is more than a simple descriptor of a hot, dry place. It functions as a powerful biblical symbol for barrenness and affliction. Its use in scripture serves to magnify the immense grace and power of a God who not only protects His people from hardship but promises to fundamentally transform their desolate conditions into places of overflowing life and abundance.
TRV