פּוּק (puq)
puq
to reel
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb puq describes a physical loss of balance, meaning to reel, totter, or stumble. It is not used for a simple slip, but for a staggering instability, often caused by intoxication or overwhelming weakness. With only two occurrences in the Old Testament, it paints a vivid picture of those who have lost their footing under pressure.
In Jeremiah 23:9, the prophet uses this word to describe the spiritual state of false prophets and priests. They reel like drunkards because of God’s word, unable to stand firm in truth. This usage highlights how divine revelation can be destabilizing to those who reject it, causing their moral and intellectual foundations to wobble.
The related Hiphil form appears in Isaiah 3:26, describing the aftermath of a siege where the city gates are broken down. Here, the people themselves totter or wobble, physically and socially unmoored after the destruction of their defenses. The word captures the fragility of human order when its structures fail.
Translators often render puq as "stagger" or "reel," preserving the image of unsteady movement. It serves as a stark metaphor for instability, whether from internal corruption or external catastrophe, reminding readers that true stability comes from standing firm in God’s truth rather than relying on fragile human systems.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word puq paints a vivid picture of physical instability, describing someone who reels or staggers as if overwhelmed by weight or intoxication. In Jeremiah 23:9, the prophet uses this image to describe false leaders whose moral footing has collapsed under the pressure of God’s truth. Their minds reel like drunkards, unable to stand firm in what is right.
This imagery reminds us that true stability does not come from our own strength or wisdom. When we face overwhelming pressures or confusing circumstances, it is natural to feel unsteady. Yet this word points us toward a deeper reality: our security rests not in our ability to keep balance, but in the firm foundation of God’s character.
When you feel your own footing slipping, remember that instability is not a sign of failure, but an invitation to lean on something stronger than yourself. The same divine word that shakes false foundations offers steady ground for those who trust in it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they tottered1×
- it will wobble1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פָּק֖וּ1×
- יָפִֽיק\׃1×