### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bôhûw**, represented by `{{H922}}`, describes a state of **emptiness** or **void**. Its base definition denotes a vacuity or an undistinguishable ruin. This specific term appears only **3 times** across **3 unique verses**, yet its usage is foundational to understanding concepts of creation and judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In each of its biblical appearances, `{{H922}}` is paired with the word **tôhûw** `{{H8414}}`, meaning "without form." This pairing powerfully describes a state of utter chaos and desolation. In Genesis, the earth is initially "without form, and **void**" before God's creative acts bring order [[Genesis 1:2]]. The prophet Jeremiah uses this exact same phrase to describe his vision of a land devastated by judgment, where the earth is returned to a pre-creation state of ruin [[Jeremiah 4:23]]. Similarly, Isaiah prophesies that a judged land will be measured with "the line of confusion, and the stones of **emptiness**" [[Isaiah 34:11]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help frame the context of `{{H922}}`:
* `{{H8414}}` **tôhûw** (without form, confusion): This word is the constant companion of **bôhûw**. It refers to a desolation, an empty place, or confusion, establishing the unformed and chaotic nature of the scenes where `{{H922}}` is found ([[Genesis 1:2]], [[Jeremiah 4:23]]).
* `{{H2822}}` **chôshek** (darkness): In the creation account, **darkness** is present upon the deep when the earth is void, signifying a state of misery, obscurity, and the absence of divine light and order [[Genesis 1:2]].
* `{{H3423}}` **yârash** (to possess, inherit, dispossess): In Isaiah's prophecy, unclean birds like the cormorant `{{H6893}}` and the bittern `{{H7090}}` will **possess** the land marked by emptiness, highlighting that this void is the result of a divine act of dispossessing the former inhabitants [[Isaiah 34:11]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H922}}` is centered on its role as the antithesis of divine order.
* **The Primordial State:** Its use in Genesis establishes **bôhûw** as the unformed, empty state of the earth over which the Spirit `{{H7307}}` of God `{{H430}}` moved `{{H7363}}`, ready to bring forth a structured and filled creation [[Genesis 1:2]]. It is the canvas upon which God's creative power is displayed.
* **A Symbol of Judgment:** The prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah repurpose this imagery to illustrate the ultimate consequence of judgment. A land that rejects God is not merely conquered but is returned to a state of primordial ruin, becoming "without form, and **void**" again, a complete undoing of its created state ([[Jeremiah 4:23]], [[Isaiah 34:11]]).
* **The Absence of God's Light:** The state of being **void** is associated with the absence of light `{{H216}}` and the presence of darkness `{{H2822}}`. While Jeremiah beholds the void, he also notes the heavens have "no light" [[Jeremiah 4:23]]. This contrasts sharply with God's first creative command, "Let there be light" [[Genesis 1:3]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H922}}` is a potent and specific term for **void** and **emptiness**. Though rare, its usage is profound, consistently appearing with `{{H8414}}` to depict a state of absolute desolation. It serves as a crucial theological concept, representing the primordial chaos that God's creative power transforms, and the dire state of ruin to which a land is returned under divine judgment.
TRV