The Hebrew word bûwqâh, represented by H950, means emptiness or empty. It is derived from an unused root word meaning to be hollow. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time across 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, making its single instance particularly impactful.
The sole use of H950 is found in a vivid prophetic description of utter devastation in Nahum 2:10. The verse declares, "She is empty H950, and void, and waste." This establishes the word as the beginning of a powerful three-part declaration of total ruin. The context describes the terrifying physical and emotional consequences of this desolation, where "the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins."
The meaning of H950 is intensified by the words used alongside it in its only biblical appearance:
- H4003 mᵉbûwqâh (void): This term for emptiness immediately follows H950, reinforcing the concept of a complete void Nahum 2:10.
- H1110 bâlaq (waste): Defined as to annihilate or make waste, this word completes the triad of destruction, signifying that the location is not only empty but has been actively laid to waste Nahum 2:10.
- H4549 mâçaç (melt away): This word describes the visceral human reaction to the devastation, as the "heart melteth" in fear and grief Nahum 2:10.
- H2479 chalchâlâh (pain): Signifying writhing or terror, this word is used to describe the "much pain" that seizes the people as a result of the judgment Nahum 2:10.
The theological weight of H950 is concentrated in its singular, powerful use as an illustration of divine judgment.
- Total Desolation: The term signifies a comprehensive and absolute judgment. The emptiness it describes is not a peaceful state but a horrifying void left after complete annihilation.
- A Portrait of Terror: The word is inextricably linked to the physiological effects of terror. The emptiness described in Nahum 2:10 is the direct cause of melting hearts, smiting knees, and faces gathering blackness H6289.
- Prophetic Fulfillment: As part of a prophetic oracle, H950 serves as a stark warning of the consequences of defying God. The state of being empty, void, and waste is presented as the ultimate end for those under judgment.
In summary, H950 is a potent, albeit rare, biblical word. Its single appearance in Nahum 2:10 paints an unforgettable picture of absolute ruin. Paired with other words of desolation, bûwqâh defines emptiness not as a simple absence, but as the terrifying and complete outcome of divine judgment that devastates both a place and its people.
TRV