### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tᵉshûwqâh**, represented by `{{H8669}}`, conveys a powerful sense of **longing** or **desire**. It appears only **3 times** across **3 unique verses**, making each occurrence significant. Its base definition comes from a root that suggests the idea of stretching out after something, highlighting an intense yearning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word appears in two critical contexts in Genesis. In the judgment upon the woman, her **desire** is directed toward her husband, who in turn "shall rule over" her [[Genesis 3:16]]. Similarly, when Cain is warned about sin, he is told that sin's **desire** is for him, but he "shalt rule" over it [[Genesis 4:7]]. The final instance offers a different perspective, appearing in a context of love and mutuality: "I am my beloved's, and his **desire** is toward me" [[Song of Solomon 7:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the meaning of `{{H8669}}`:
* `{{H4910}}` **mâshal**: Defined as **to rule**, this word is directly paired with `{{H8669}}` in both [[Genesis 3:16]] and [[Genesis 4:7]]. In these verses, the presence of **desire** is immediately followed by a statement about the need to **rule** over that which is desired or the one who desires.
* `{{H559}}` **ʼâmar**: Meaning **to say**, this verb introduces the divine pronouncements where `{{H8669}}` is used. In [[Genesis 3:16]], God **said** the consequences for the woman, which included her **desire**.
* `{{H7235}}` **râbâh**: This word means **to increase** or multiply. It is used in [[Genesis 3:16]] when God states, "I will greatly **multiply** thy sorrow," setting the stage for the subsequent mention of **desire** as part of this intensified consequence.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8669}}` is evident in its specific applications:
* **A Force Requiring Dominion:** In its first two appearances, `{{H8669}}` describes a powerful longing that is immediately met with the concept of being ruled over `{{H4910}}`. This suggests a dynamic where this type of **desire** is a force that must be governed, whether it is sin's desire for Cain [[Genesis 4:7]] or the woman's desire for her husband [[Genesis 3:16]].
* **A Consequence of Sin:** The word is introduced exclusively within the context of the Fall and its immediate aftermath. It is part of the sorrow God multiplies for the woman [[Genesis 3:16]] and is personified as the intent of sin itself crouching at the door [[Genesis 4:7]], linking this specific type of longing to a disordered state.
* **A Redeemed Longing:** The final use of `{{H8669}}` in Song of Solomon presents a stark contrast. Here, **desire** is not something to be subjugated but is a mutual and celebrated longing between the beloved and the speaker [[Song of Solomon 7:10]], showing the term can also represent a holy yearning.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8669}}` **tᵉshûwqâh** is a rare but theologically rich term for **desire**. While its root implies a stretching out after something, its biblical usage is sharply divided. It can represent a problematic longing that arises in a context of sin and requires subjugation, as seen in Genesis. However, it can also depict a pure and mutual **desire** within a covenant of love, as shown in Song of Solomon. The meaning of this intense longing is therefore critically defined by its context.
TRV