Lexical Summary pachach: Snare, trap Original Word: פָחַח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be snared A primitive root; to batter out; but used only as denominative from pach, to spread a net -- be snared. see HEBREW pach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from pach Definition to ensnare NASB Translation trapped (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מָּחַח] verb Hiph`il denominative ensnare; Infinitive absolute הָפֵחַ כֻּלָּם Isaiah 42:22, with בְּ local an ensnaring [i. e. men have ensnared] them all in, etc. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imageryפָחַח (pachach) pictures rough-hewn underground cavities—natural caves, cisterns converted into cells, or hastily dug pits—used to confine the conquered. More than a mere physical space, the hole becomes a metaphor for degradation, darkness, and helplessness. In prophetic language it evokes life cut off from light, freedom, and worship. Context in Isaiah 42:22 “But this is a people plundered and looted; all of them are trapped in holes, hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them, spoil, with no one to say, ‘Restore!’ ” (Isaiah 42:22). Placed within the Servant Song of Isaiah 42, pachach exposes the stark contrast between Israel’s divine calling (Isaiah 42:6-7) and her lived experience under judgment. While the Servant is commissioned “to open eyes that are blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon,” the nation itself languishes in dungeon-like holes because of covenant infidelity (Isaiah 42:24-25). The single occurrence of pachach thus concentrates the chapter’s tension: captivity cries out for a Messianic liberator. Historical Background Archaeology and Near Eastern texts confirm that Assyrian and Babylonian armies routinely herded captives into pits before deportation. These holding holes served both logistical and psychological purposes—stripping identity and enforcing terror. Isaiah addresses a Judean audience who either witnessed or soon would witness such humiliations. Pachach therefore grounds the prophecy in a recognizable wartime reality while also foreshadowing the exile. Theological Significance 1. Consequence of Sin The hole symbolizes the depth of judgment when God’s people spurn His law. Like Joseph’s cistern (Genesis 37:24) or Jeremiah’s muddy pit (Jeremiah 38:6), pachach is not random misfortune but the fruit of rebellion (Isaiah 42:23-24). 2. Need for Divine Intervention No human advocate can reach into this darkness—“with no one to rescue” (Isaiah 42:22). Only the Servant who “will not grow faint” (Isaiah 42:4) possesses power to release. The word underscores total dependence on divine grace. 3. Foreshadowing Gospel Deliverance Isaiah 42:7 links opening prison doors to sight for the blind, prefiguring the Messiah’s program announced in Luke 4:18. From the pit imagery of Psalm 40:2 to the proclamation that God “rescued us from the dominion of darkness” (Colossians 1:13), Scripture reads pachach forward into the New Covenant promise of spiritual emancipation. Intertextual Connections • Psalm 107:10-16 – prisoners in darkness whom the Lord shatters free. These passages expand the single Old Testament occurrence into a canonical pattern: God repeatedly brings His people out of literal and figurative holes. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Preaching Repentance and Hope Pachach warns against complacency toward sin while offering hope grounded in Christ’s liberation. Sermons on Isaiah 42 can expose captivity to modern idols and proclaim freedom available in the gospel. 2. Pastoral Care for the Oppressed Believers suffering injustice may identify with those “hidden away in prisons.” The word assures them that God sees hidden affliction and appoints a Deliverer who enters the darkest holes. 3. Intercessory Prayer Isaiah’s lament invites the church to pray “Restore!” where society consigns people to figurative pits—trafficking, addiction, persecution—trusting the Servant’s ongoing mission. 4. Mission and Social Action The Servant’s mandate models holistic ministry: proclaiming truth while opening prison doors (Isaiah 58:6; Matthew 25:36). Pachach motivates advocacy for literal prisoners and investment in rehabilitation ministries. Summary Though appearing once, פָחַח concentrates a theology of captivity and redemption. The word anchors Israel’s historical exile, magnifies the necessity of the Messianic Servant, and radiates through Scripture as a promise that no pit is too deep for God’s saving arm. Forms and Transliterations הָפֵ֤חַ הפח hā·p̄ê·aḥ haFeach hāp̄êaḥLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 42:22 HEB: בָּז֣וּז וְשָׁסוּי֒ הָפֵ֤חַ בַּֽחוּרִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם NAS: All of them are trapped in caves, KJV: and spoiled; [they are] all of them snared in holes, INT: plundered and despoiled are trapped caves All 1 Occurrence |
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