### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H8557}}` (תֶּמֶס, temeç) derives from the verb `{{H4549}}` (מָסָה, māsāh), meaning "to melt, dissolve, waste away." As a noun, temeç signifies the state or result of this process: "liquefaction," "melting," or more profoundly, "disappearance." It describes something that dissolves so completely that it ceases to exist as a discernible entity, often implying a vanishing or wasting away without leaving a trace. The core emphasis is on a complete dissolution leading to ultimate cessation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H8557}}` (תֶּמֶס, temeç) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in [[Psalm 58:8]]. This singular occurrence, however, is profoundly significant, embedded within an imprecatory psalm that calls for divine judgment upon the wicked.
In [[Psalm 58:8]], the psalmist cries out: "Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces." The phrase "melt away as waters" (כְּמוֹ מַיִם יִתְמָאֲסוּ) employs temeç in a vivid simile. The imagery invoked is that of flowing water, perhaps torrents that dissipate into the dry ground or evaporate, leaving no residual presence. This is not a gentle melting but a forceful, complete dissolution, signifying utter destruction and eradication. The wicked are to vanish completely, their influence and very existence dissolved. The parallel clause, "let them be as cut in pieces" (referring to arrows that fail to hit their mark), reinforces the idea of futility, impotence, and complete failure. The context is one of divine justice, where the Lord's power brings about the irreversible end of those who practice evil.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic relation to `{{H8557}}` (תֶּמֶס, temeç) is its root verb, `{{H4549}}` (מָסָה, māsāh). This verb is extensively used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe various forms of melting or dissolving:
* **Physical melting:** Wax melting before fire ([[Psalm 68:2]]), mountains melting before the Lord ([[Judges 5:5]], [[Psalm 97:5]], [[Micah 1:4]]). This often signifies the overwhelming power of God.
* **Emotional melting:** Hearts melting from fear or dread ([[Deuteronomy 20:8]], [[Joshua 2:9]], [[Isaiah 13:7]], [[Nahum 2:10]]). This describes a state of utter demoralization and loss of courage.
* **Wasting away:** The manna melting in the sun ([[Exodus 16:21]]).
Another related noun derived from `{{H4549}}` is `{{H4529}}` (מֶסֶס, meses), which also means "melting" or "dissolving," as seen in [[Exodus 16:21]] regarding the manna.
Conceptually, temeç is linked to themes of:
* **Transience and impermanence:** What melts away leaves no lasting trace.
* **Divine judgment and destruction:** Often, the "melting" imagery is associated with God's powerful intervention to remove or obliterate opposition.
* **Vulnerability and futility:** That which melts is revealed as weak and ultimately unable to withstand superior force.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of `{{H8557}}` (תֶּמֶס, temeç) in [[Psalm 58:8]] carries profound theological weight, primarily underscoring the absolute sovereignty of God in judging wickedness.
1. **Divine Judgment and Eradication of Evil:** The petition for the wicked to "melt away as waters" is a powerful expression of God's justice. It signifies that evil, no matter how entrenched or powerful it may seem, is ultimately transient and subject to God's will. Their dissolution is complete and irreversible, leaving no trace of their harmful influence.
2. **The Finitude of Human Opposition:** In contrast to the eternal and unchanging nature of God, the wicked are portrayed as utterly fragile and perishable. Their existence is likened to water that disappears, highlighting the futility and eventual non-existence of any power that stands against the divine order.
3. **Vindication of the Righteous:** For the psalmist and those who suffer under the oppression of the wicked, the "melting away" of their adversaries is a promise of vindication and deliverance. It affirms that God sees injustice and will act decisively to bring about righteousness.
4. **A Metaphor for Complete Cessation:** Beyond mere death, temeç implies a total vanishing, a cessation of being that leaves no legacy or lingering threat. This speaks to the thoroughness of God's judgment and His ability to cleanse the earth of evil.
### Summary
`{{H8557}}` (תֶּמֶס, temeç) is a rare but potent Hebrew noun, denoting complete liquefaction and subsequent disappearance or dissolution. Derived from the verb `{{H4549}}` (מָסָה, māsāh), its sole biblical occurrence in [[Psalm 58:8]] vividly portrays the utter destruction and vanishing of the wicked under divine judgment. The imagery of "melting away as waters" underscores the transient, futile, and ultimately non-existent nature of those who oppose God. Theologically, temeç serves as a powerful metaphor for God's sovereign power to bring about the complete eradication of evil, ensuring justice and the ultimate vindication of the righteous.
TRV