### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gaph**, represented by `{{H1610}}`, is derived from an unused root meaning to arch. It is used to denote the back, and by extension, the body or self. It can also be found in the phrase "highest places." This specific term appears **4 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H1610}}` carries two distinct meanings based on context. In the Law of Moses, it is used three times to mean "**himself**," establishing the legal status of a servant who enters servitude alone and must therefore leave alone ([[Exodus 21:3]], [[Exodus 21:4]]). Separately, in Proverbs, it is used to describe the "**highest places**" of a city, signifying a location of great visibility from which wisdom personified sends her messengers to cry out to the public [[Proverbs 9:3]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear in the verses where `{{H1610}}` is found, clarifying its application:
* `{{H3318}}` **yâtsâʼ** (to go ... out): This verb is paired with `{{H1610}}` to describe the action of leaving servitude. A man who came in by himself "shall go **out** by himself" [[Exodus 21:3]].
* `{{H7971}}` **shâlach** (to send away, for, or out): In Proverbs, wisdom has "**sent forth**" her maidens from the high places, initiating the call to the simple [[Proverbs 9:3]].
* `{{H7121}}` **qârâʼ** (to call out to): This word describes the proclamation made from the "highest places" signified by `{{H1610}}`. Wisdom "**crieth**" from these prominent positions [[Proverbs 9:3]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1610}}` is found in its specific and dual applications, highlighting concepts of identity and position.
* **Legal Identity:** The word is used to define a person's individual, solitary status. In the context of Exodus, "by **himself**" is a crucial legal distinction that determines the terms of a servant's freedom and family obligations [[Exodus 21:3-4]].
* **Physical Prominence:** `{{H1610}}` also denotes a place of elevation. By positioning her call "upon the **highest places**," wisdom ensures her message of guidance is accessible and unavoidable to those in the city below [[Proverbs 9:3]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1610}}` is a specific term that, while rare, serves two important functions. It can define a person's legal standing as a solitary individual ("by himself") or identify a prominent physical location ("highest places") for public proclamation. The word's meaning is sharply defined by its immediate context, whether in legal statutes or wisdom literature.
TRV