### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bâṭêl**, represented by `{{H988}}`, is a primitive root that means **to desist from labor** or **cease**. It is a very rare term in scripture, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single occurrence of `{{H988}}` is found in a deeply metaphorical passage describing the frailty of old age. In [[Ecclesiastes 12:3]], the writer paints a picture of a decaying house, where the "grinders **cease** because they are few." This imagery refers to teeth, which can no longer perform their function of chewing food as they diminish in number, illustrating the body's inevitable decline.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in the surrounding text of [[Ecclesiastes 12:3]] build upon this theme of decline:
* `{{H2912}}` **ṭâchan** (grind): This is the action that is ceasing. The word literally means to **grind meal** [[Numbers 11:8]] and is used metaphorically for the function of teeth.
* `{{H4591}}` **mâʻaṭ** (few): This word, meaning to **be... small or few**, provides the direct cause for the cessation. In contrast to the decline seen in Ecclesiastes, God promises his people they will be multiplied and not be **few** [[Jeremiah 30:19]].
* `{{H2111}}` **zûwaʻ** (tremble): This term, meaning to **agitate**, describes the shaking of the "keepers of the house" (the arms and hands) in old age, complementing the idea of bodily functions ceasing [[Ecclesiastes 12:3]].
* `{{H2821}}` **châshak** (darkened): In the same verse, sight fails as those who look out the windows are **darkened**. This word for being dark or withholding light is also used to describe divine judgment, such as when the sun is **darkened** [[Isaiah 13:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H988}}` comes entirely from its singular, powerful context. It highlights the transient nature of human life and strength.
* **The Reality of Decay:** The word's use to describe the cessation of a basic bodily function underscores the biblical theme of human frailty and the physical consequences of a fallen world.
* **Cessation of Labor:** The core definition, "to desist from labor," is vividly applied not to a chosen rest but to an involuntary stopping. This portrays the end of a person's physical strength and earthly activities as an unavoidable reality.
* **A Symbol of Mortality:** Within the poetic framework of Ecclesiastes 12, the act of "ceasing" is a key element in the depiction of the final "day" of one's life, pointing toward the ultimate cessation in death.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H988}}` is among the rarest words in the Old Testament, its sole use is unforgettable. It powerfully captures the concept of cessation, not as a peaceful rest, but as a consequence of decay and aging. It serves as a stark and poignant reminder of the temporary nature of human ability and the inevitable decline of the physical body.
TRV