### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bᵉʼôsh**, represented by `{{H889}}`, is a direct term for **stench** or **stink**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. This word consistently refers to the foul odor that arises from widespread death and decay, typically in the context of divine judgment or the aftermath of war.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H889}}` is used to graphically depict the results of divine punishment. In the book of Amos, God describes a plague sent upon Israel, declaring, "I have made the **stink** of your camps to come up unto your nostrils" [[Amos 4:10]]. Similarly, Isaiah prophesies a great slaughter where "their **stink** shall come up out of their carcases" [[Isaiah 34:3]], indicating a defeat so total that the dead are left unburied. The prophet Joel also uses the term to describe the destruction of an invading army, promising that "his **stink** shall come up" as a sign of its utter ruin [[Joel 2:20]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the context of judgment and decay:
* `{{H1698}}` **deber** (from דָבַר (in the sense of destroying); a pestilence; murrain, pestilence, plague.): This word often appears as the cause of the death that produces the **stench**. It is a direct instrument of God’s judgment, as seen when God sends **pestilence** against Israel, which results in the **stink** of their camps [[Amos 4:10]].
* `{{H6709}}` **tsachănâh** (from an unused root meaning to putrefy; stench; ill savour.): This term is used in direct parallel with `{{H889}}` to amplify the idea of a repulsive odor. In Joel's prophecy, the promise that the enemy's **stink** and **ill savour** will rise up emphasizes the magnitude of the coming destruction [[Joel 2:20]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H889}}` lies in its raw, sensory depiction of the consequences of sin and judgment.
* **Tangible Judgment:** The **stink** is not an abstract idea but a physical manifestation of God's wrath. It serves as a visceral sign that judgment has been executed, as when the smell of decay rises from the camps of a punished people [[Amos 4:10]].
* **Sign of Utter Defeat:** The odor from unburied corpses represents complete and humiliating defeat. It signifies a scene of such carnage that the basic rites of burial are impossible, leaving the vanquished to rot in the open [[Isaiah 34:3]].
* **Symbol of Corruption:** The physical decay described by **bᵉʼôsh** serves as a potent metaphor for the spiritual corruption that provokes divine judgment.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H889}}` is far more than a simple word for a bad smell. It is a powerful and specific term used by the prophets to illustrate the grim reality of divine retribution. By invoking the repulsive **stench** of death, the word conveys the finality of judgment and serves as a graphic reminder of the horrific consequences that follow rebellion against God ([[Isaiah 34:3]], [[Amos 4:10]]).