### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bôchan**, represented by `{{H976}}`, provides the specific meaning of a **trial**, or something that has been **tried**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, making its application highly focused and significant within its singular context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{H976}}` is found in [[Isaiah 28:16]], where the Lord GOD describes a foundation He is laying in Zion. In this prophetic declaration, the word is used to qualify a foundational stone. The text states, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a **tried** stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation" [[Isaiah 28:16]]. Here, **bôchan** emphasizes that this cornerstone is not new or untested, but has been proven to be reliable and secure.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H976}}` is enhanced by the words it appears with in its only scriptural instance:
* `{{H68}}` **ʼeben** (a stone): This is the object being described as **tried**. It serves as the physical metaphor for the foundation. The word **ʼeben** is also used to describe the "stony heart" that God promises to remove [[Ezekiel 11:19]] and the memorial stone Ebenezer [[1 Samuel 7:12]].
* `{{H3368}}` **yâqâr** (valuable; precious): In the same verse, the cornerstone is also called **precious**. This word signifies great worth and is used elsewhere to describe God's "excellent" lovingkindness [[Psalms 36:7]] and the "precious" stones covering the king of Tyre in Eden [[Ezekiel 28:13]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H976}}` is derived entirely from its context in [[Isaiah 28:16]].
* **A Proven Foundation:** The primary theological point is that the foundation laid by God has undergone a **trial** and has been proven steadfast. It is not a speculative or weak base but one that is fully tested and secure.
* **Assurance for the Believer:** The verse connects this **tried** stone directly to faith, concluding, "he that believeth shall not make haste" [[Isaiah 28:16]]. The assurance for the believer rests on the fact that the foundation itself has already been proven.
* **Divine Guarantee of Quality:** By describing the stone as both **tried** `{{H976}}` and **precious** `{{H3368}}`, the passage emphasizes the immense quality and value of God's provision. It is a foundation that is both strong and of supreme worth.
### Summary
In summary, while **bôchan** is one of the rarest words in the biblical lexicon, its single appearance is impactful. It conveys the crucial concept of being tested and proven. Used in Isaiah to describe the cornerstone laid by God in Zion, `{{H976}}` transforms the metaphor from a simple stone into a symbol of a reliable, secure, and divinely guaranteed foundation for faith.
TRV