Lexical Summary tus: To dart, to fly swiftly Original Word: טוּשׂ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance haste A primitive root; to pounce as a bird of prey -- haste. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to rush, dart NASB Translation swoops (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [טוּשׂ] verb rush, dart (Aramaic  , טוּס fly) — only Qal Imperfect כְּנֶשֶׁר יָטוּשׁ עֲלֵי אֹ֑כֶל Job 9:26 like a vulture, which rusheth upon its food (simile of swiftly passing days of Job's life). Topical Lexicon Overview of the Term טוּשׂ (Strong’s Hebrew 2907) appears only once, in Job 9:26, and conveys the idea of rapid movement, disappearance, or passing away. Though its attestation is singular, the word functions as a vivid thread in Scripture’s tapestry of imagery stressing the fleeting nature of human life. Biblical Setting: Job 9:26 Job laments: “They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey” (Job 9:26). Here טוּשׂ captures the speed with which Job’s days seem to vanish. The verse is embedded in Job’s larger complaint (Job 9:25-35) that finite humanity cannot contend with the Almighty. By likening life’s flight to both river-craft caught in current and an eagle in a dive, the poet intensifies the sense of irretrievable loss. Imagery and Cultural Background 1. Boats of papyrus – Light, swift vessels on the Nile were famously fast but fragile. Their passage underscores transience: easily launched, quickly propelled, soon out of sight. Both images would have resonated with an audience familiar with desert caravan travel and Egyptian waterways, anchoring Job’s complaint in concrete experience. Theological Themes • Brevity of life – Job’s metaphor joins a chorus: “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4). Scripture consistently confronts readers with mortality to direct them toward wisdom (Psalm 90:12). Connections Across Scripture Although טוּשׂ itself is rare, its concept echoes widely: These passages extend Job’s insight, forming a canonical pattern that contrasts human evanescence with divine permanence. Ministry and Pastoral Application 1. Urgency of repentance – Because days speed past, proclamation of salvation must be clear and immediate (2 Corinthians 6:2). Implications for Christian Living The swiftness embedded in טוּשׂ calls every generation to sober reflection. Life’s fragility is not a cause for despair but an invitation to anchor hope in the unchanging Redeemer, to labor in His harvest while daylight remains (John 9:4), and to encourage one another daily “as long as it is called ‘Today’” (Hebrews 3:13). Summary Though tucked into a single verse, טוּשׂ serves as a powerful biblical witness to life’s rapid passage. The term amplifies Job’s anguish, enriches Scripture’s broader meditation on mortality, and speaks pastorally to the need for repentance, faithful stewardship, and steadfast hope in the eternal God who alone outlasts the swiftest days of humankind. Forms and Transliterations יָט֥וּשׂ יטוש yā·ṭūś yaTus yāṭūśLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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