Lexical Summary buk: To empty, to pour out Original Word: בּוּךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be entangled, perplexed A primitive root; to involve (literally or figuratively) -- be entangled, (perplexed). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to perplex, confuse NASB Translation confusion (1), wander aimlessly (1), wandering aimlessly (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בּוּךְ verb perplex, confuse (? Arabic  stir up (water of spring) then be disturbed, confused; compare Assyrian bâku, lead captive, originally lead astray? COT Ezra 4:2) — only Niph`al Perfect3feminine singular נָב֫וֺכָה Esther 3:15; 3masculine plural נָבֹ֫כוּ Joel 1:18; Participle plural נְבֻכִים Exodus 14:3; — be confused, in confusion (of a city) Esther 3:15; = wander aimlessly (of Israel) Exodus 14:3; so of cattle Joel 1:18 (Merx proposes בָּכוּ, after ᵐ5 ἔκλαυσαν, but בכה not elsewhere of cattle). Topical Lexicon Descriptive Overviewבּוּךְ portrays a condition of being hemmed in, bewildered, or thrown into perplexity. Whether applied to armies, civilians, or livestock, the word highlights situations where natural resources, human wisdom, and strategic options all appear to vanish, inviting the reader to look beyond human ability to the sovereign hand of God. Canonical Occurrences 1. Exodus 14:3 “For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’” Pharaoh’s assessment that Israel was “boxed in” set the stage for the Red Sea miracle. What seemed like hopeless entanglement became the very means by which God magnified His power and destroyed Egypt’s military might. 2. Esther 3:15 “Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.” Here the entire capital reels in confusion as genocidal legislation is hurried through the empire. The people’s stunned perplexity contrasts sharply with the careless revelry of the palace, underscoring the moral blindness of human authority unchecked by divine truth. 3. Joel 1:18 “How the cattle groan! The herds of cattle wander in confusion because they have no pasture.” A drought-driven famine leaves even the beasts of the field aimlessly searching for sustenance. Their confused wandering mirrors Judah’s spiritual desolation, calling the nation to repentance. Literary and Theological Themes • Apparent Dead-Ends as Divine Doorways In Exodus, perceived entrapment precipitates deliverance. Scripture repeatedly turns human impossibility into a platform for God’s glory (Genesis 22:14; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10). • Moral and Civic Disorientation Esther exposes how unjust decrees create social bewilderment. When rulers abandon righteousness, entire communities lose moral bearings (Proverbs 29:2). • Creation Groaning under Judgment Joel links agricultural chaos with covenant unfaithfulness. Paul later describes creation itself groaning for redemption (Romans 8:22), echoing the prophetic imagery. Historical Significance Ancient Near-Eastern warfare manuals prized open terrain for mobility; being “shut in” meant certain defeat. Exodus overturns that military axiom by demonstrating a God who makes “a way through the sea” (Psalm 77:19). In the Persian period, swift courier systems normally produced celebration of royal edicts; Esther records the opposite—astonishment and dread—highlighting Israel’s unique calling among the nations. Joel’s agricultural crisis reflects the dependence of subsistence economies on seasonal rains, making divine favor a tangible reality in every harvest. Intertextual Echoes The motif of confusion as judgment or deliverance recurs: Practical and Pastoral Applications • Faith when Circumstances Constrict Congregations facing cultural hostility may feel “boxed in.” Exodus 14 urges stillness and trust: “The LORD will fight for you” (Exodus 14:14). • Ethical Leadership Esther cautions against complacency in positions of power. Spiritual leaders must discern hidden injustices that bewilder communities. • Creation Care and Repentance Joel couples environmental catastrophe with spiritual lethargy, reminding believers that repentance and intercession remain integral to ecological healing (Joel 2:12-19). Christological and Ecclesiological Insight Jesus willingly entered the ultimate entanglement—Gethsemane, trial, and cross—appearing trapped so that resurrection power might be revealed (Colossians 2:15). The Church, often perplexed yet not in despair (2 Corinthians 4:8), embodies this paradox, demonstrating that divine strength is perfected precisely where human resources end. Summary בּוּךְ threads through Scripture as a subtle yet potent reminder that confusion, whether military, societal, or environmental, is never final for those under God’s covenant. What boxes in the eye of flesh opens wide in the plan of redemption, turning bewilderment into a stage for providential victory. Forms and Transliterations נְבֻכִ֥ים נָבֹ֙כוּ֙ נָבֽוֹכָה׃ נבוכה׃ נבכו נבכים nā·ḇō·ḵū nā·ḇō·w·ḵāh nāḇōḵū nāḇōwḵāh naVochah naVochu nə·ḇu·ḵîm nəḇuḵîm nevuChimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 14:3 HEB: לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְבֻכִ֥ים הֵ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ NAS: of Israel, 'They are wandering aimlessly in the land; KJV: of Israel, They [are] entangled in the land, INT: of the sons of Israel are wandering in the land Esther 3:15 Joel 1:18 3 Occurrences |
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