Word Study for H6328 (פּוּק) | Strong's Concordance

pûwq /pook/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto waver

KJV usagestumble, move.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pûwq — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pûwq, represented by H6328, is a primitive root meaning to waver; stumble, move. Despite its simple definition, this term carries significant weight in its contexts. It appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses, with each instance illustrating a different facet of instability, one physical and one moral.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6328 draws a sharp contrast between inanimate objects and human fallibility. In Jeremiah, it is used to describe the desired state of a man-made idol, which is fastened with nails and hammers so that it does not move Jeremiah 10:4. Conversely, in Isaiah, the word describes the failure of religious leaders. The priest and prophet, having erred through strong drink, stumble in judgment Isaiah 28:7. This figurative use points to a critical failure in discernment and moral stability.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words in the context of Isaiah 28:7 illuminate the concept of stumbling:

H7686 shâgâh (to stray, mistake, err): This word appears multiple times in the same verse as H6328, emphasizing that the stumbling is a result of having erred through wine and strong drink Isaiah 28:7. It points to a moral or mental mistake leading to physical or judicial unsteadiness.
H7941 shêkâr (an intoxicant, strong drink): This is identified as the direct cause of the erring and stumbling. The passage states that leaders are "out of the way through strong drink" Isaiah 28:7, making it the agent of their compromised judgment.
H8582 tâʻâh (to vacillate, reel or stray): Also used in Isaiah 28:7, this term describes how the leaders are "out of the way." It reinforces the idea of deviation from a true or stable path, thematically linking to the concept of wavering found in H6328.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6328 is concentrated in its illustration of compromised spiritual leadership.

Physical vs. Moral Stability: The word contrasts the forced stability of a lifeless idol Jeremiah 10:4 with the moral instability of God's chosen servants. While an idol can be secured so it cannot move, a human leader can stumble in judgment due to poor choices.
Failure in Judgment: The use of H6328 in Isaiah 28:7 is specifically tied to a breakdown in "judgment." This is not a mere physical trip but a critical failure in the duties of a priest or prophet, whose role is to provide clear, divinely-guided decisions.
The Cause of Compromise: The passage explicitly links the stumbling to indulgence in "strong drink" H7941. This creates a direct theological warning about how physical excess can lead directly to spiritual and judicial failure, causing leaders to err in their sacred responsibilities.

Summary

In summary, H6328 is a rare but potent word that encapsulates the idea of instability. Whether describing the physical immobility of a false god or the profound moral failure of a compromised leader, pûwq highlights a deviation from a firm and true standing. Its primary lesson, drawn from Isaiah, is a stark reminder of how personal conduct can directly impact one's ability to execute judgment, serving as a warning against the causes of spiritual stumbling.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יָפִיק
פָּקוּ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah and Jeremiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.