גּוּמָּץ (gum.mats)
gum.mats
pit
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun gummatz refers to a pit or a deep hollow in the ground. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ecclesiastes 10:8, where it serves as part of a practical observation about danger and labor.
In this context, the word describes the risk faced by someone who digs a hole, perhaps for construction or burial. The text notes that a serpent may lie in wait there, ready to strike. This usage highlights the hidden peril associated with such excavations, grounding the abstract wisdom of Ecclesiastes in a vivid, physical scene.
Because its occurrence is so rare, the word does not carry a wide range of theological symbolism in Scripture. Instead, it functions as a concrete image of vulnerability. The author uses this specific hazard to illustrate how foolishness can lead one into unexpected trouble, even when engaged in ordinary work.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gummatz simply means a pit or a deep hollow in the ground. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ecclesiastes 10:8. The text describes someone digging a hole for work and warns that a snake might be hiding inside. This is not a complex theological term but a real-life observation about danger.
Wisdom literature often uses everyday scenes to teach us about life. Here, the pit represents hidden risks in our daily tasks. Even when we are working hard or building something good, there can be unexpected trouble. The image reminds us that caution is part of living wisely in a fallen world.
This verse encourages us to stay alert. It does not say work is bad, but that we should respect the dangers around us. God gives us minds to see these risks and hearts to act with care. We can trust Him to protect us while we go about our daily duties.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a pit1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גּוּמָּ֖ץ1×
Key Verses
-
Ecclesiastes 10:8
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
The word describes the specific hole dug by a worker, highlighting how ordinary labor can expose us to hidden dangers like a lurking serpent.