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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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