The Hebrew word tᵉshûwrâh, represented by H8670, means a gift or present. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. The term is derived from a root word meaning arrival, suggesting a gift brought by someone upon reaching a destination or meeting someone of importance.
The single use of H8670 occurs when Saul H7586 speaks H559 with his servant H5288 about what they can bring H935 to the man H376 of God H430. Saul notes that their bread H3899 is spent H235 from their vessels H3627, and consequently, they have no present H8670 to offer 1 Samuel 9:7. This context establishes the word as denoting a customary gift of honor or respect when approaching a significant spiritual figure.
Several related words from its sole context help clarify its meaning:
- H935 bôwʼ (to go or come): This primitive root, used for "to bring" in this context, frames the action of presenting the gift. Its use is seen in the direct question "what shall we bring the man?" and the statement that there is no present "to bring" 1 Samuel 9:7.
- H3899 lechem (food... especially bread): This word identifies the specific provision that has been depleted. The lack of bread is the reason Saul cannot offer a gift, showing how basic sustenance was intertwined with social and religious customs 1 Samuel 9:7.
- H235 ʼâzal (to go away, hence, to disappear; fail): This word describes the status of their provisions, translated as "is spent" 1 Samuel 9:7. It signifies that their resources have failed or disappeared, creating the dilemma of arriving empty-handed before the man of God.
The theological weight of H8670 is derived entirely from its specific narrative use.
- Custom of Honor: The sole appearance of H8670 underscores the cultural and spiritual importance of bringing a gift when seeking an audience with a prophet or a "man of God" H430. Saul's H7586 concern reveals this was a deeply ingrained protocol of respect 1 Samuel 9:7.
- Expression of Need: The narrative links the lack of a present directly to the fact that their bread H3899 is "spent" H235. This situation highlights a moment of human insufficiency when approaching a divine representative, emphasizing their dependence and lack of resources.
In summary, tᵉshûwrâh H8670 is a highly specific term for a present or gift that appears only once in scripture. Its singular context in 1 Samuel 9:7 powerfully illustrates the custom of bringing an offering to a person of spiritual authority. The word's significance is tied to the act of arrival and the protocol of showing honor, as highlighted by Saul's concern when his provisions were spent and he had nothing to bring.
TRV