פֹּת
a hole, i.e. hinge or the female pudenda
Definition
The Hebrew noun פֹּת (pôth) refers to an opening or hole. In its two biblical occurrences, it carries distinct meanings. In 1 Kings 7:50, it describes the 'hinges' or sockets for the doors of the temple and palace, referring to the pivotal openings that allow doors to swing. In Isaiah 3:17, the word is used in a metaphorical and graphic judgment oracle, where God threatens to afflict the 'secret part' (i.e., the female pudenda) of the daughters of Zion as a consequence of their pride and vanity.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two very different contexts. Its first usage is architectural and mundane, found in the description of Solomon's temple furnishings (1 Kings 7:50). Its second usage is prophetic and metaphorical, appearing in Isaiah's oracle of judgment against Jerusalem's women for their haughtiness (Isaiah 3:16-17). There is no pattern of common usage, making each instance highly context-dependent.
Etymology
The word פֹּת (pôth) or its variant פֹּתָה (pôthâ) derives from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to open.' This root sense clearly connects to both attested meanings—a hinge is an opening mechanism for a door, and the euphemistic usage refers to a bodily opening. The connection is the fundamental idea of an aperture.
Semantic Range
While the architectural use is mundane, the usage in Isaiah 3:17 carries significant theological weight. It illustrates the severity and holistic nature of God's covenant judgment, which can extend to the most intimate and vulnerable aspects of life as a consequence of persistent sin and social injustice. Understanding this Hebrew term reveals the shocking, concrete imagery the prophets used to communicate the seriousness of breaking covenant with God.
In its architectural sense, the word reflects ancient Near Eastern craftsmanship in temple and palace construction. Its use in Isaiah draws on a cultural understanding of female anatomy as a point of vulnerability and shame within the context of covenant curses (see also Deuteronomy 28:57). The prophetic metaphor would have been understood as a devastating reversal of honor and protection, signifying total disgrace and exposure under divine judgment.
חֹר (chor, H2356) — a more general term for a hole or aperture, like in a wall or needle. פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — a doorway, entrance, or opening, often used for the opening of a tent or a city gate.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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