Lexical Summary suach: To meditate, to muse, to ponder Original Word: שׂוּחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance meditate A primitive root; to muse pensively -- meditate. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition perhaps to muse NASB Translation meditate (1). Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Translation שׂוּחַ (Strong’s 7742) appears only once, Genesis 24:63. The Berean Standard Bible renders the verse, “And in the early evening Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw camels approaching.” The unique placement, together with its surrounding narrative, makes the word a window into patriarchal piety and the larger biblical theology of meditation and prayer. Narrative Setting Genesis 24 recounts Abraham’s servant returning with Rebekah, the woman appointed by God to be Isaac’s wife and the next matriarch of the covenant line. Isaac’s solitary walk takes place “in the early evening,” a liminal hour between the day’s labor and night’s rest. The setting is the open field, away from tents and herds, evoking solitude, simplicity, and an unobstructed view of heaven—an ideal environment for unhurried communion with God. Spiritual Significance in the Patriarchal Era 1. Covenant Meditation. Isaac is heir to the promises first stated in Genesis 12 and reaffirmed in Genesis 22. His meditation likely centers on God’s faithfulness, the prospect of marriage, and the unfolding covenant blessings. Theology of Meditation Though שׂוּחַ is unique to Genesis 24:63, the discipline it denotes resonates with broader biblical teaching: The Old Testament emphasizes meditation not as emptying the mind but filling it with God’s truth and works, leading to trust and obedience. Field Imagery in Scripture Fields commonly symbolize provision and mission. Ruth meets Boaz in the fields of Bethlehem; David guards his father’s sheep in the fields before receiving royal promise; Jesus later declares, “The field is the world” (Matthew 13:38). Isaac’s meditation in a field thus foreshadows the union of contemplation and vocation—the believer meets God privately and is then ready to serve Him publicly. Typological Observations Isaac, the beloved son spared on Moriah, functions as an early type of Christ. On the evening that he lifts his eyes, he sees his bride approaching. The scene anticipates the risen Christ awaiting His bride, the Church, whom He will receive in promised union (Revelation 19:7). Meditation, in this light, becomes watchful expectancy for divine fulfillment. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Solitude as Spiritual Discipline. Leaders and laypeople alike benefit from scheduled withdrawal from noise for prayerful reflection. Isaac’s example validates intentional times of quiet reflection outside formal worship settings. Related Biblical Themes • Patience and Providence – Genesis 24 emphasizes God’s unseen orchestration; Isaac’s meditation trains the heart to wait. Summary שׂוּחַ frames Isaac’s quiet communion with God at a decisive turning point. Though a hapax legomenon, the term reinforces a consistent biblical call to meditation—unhurried, word-saturated, expectant. Believers today, whether awaiting guidance, preparing for marriage, or seeking deeper fellowship with the Lord, find in Isaac’s evening walk a timeless model of faith that listens, looks up, and welcomes God’s gracious provision. Forms and Transliterations לָשׂ֥וּחַ לשוח lā·śū·aḥ laSuach lāśūaḥLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 24:63 HEB: וַיֵּצֵ֥א יִצְחָ֛ק לָשׂ֥וּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִפְנ֣וֹת NAS: went out to meditate in the field KJV: went out to meditate in the field INT: went Isaac to meditate the field toward 1 Occurrence |
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