Lexical Summary
puq: Bring forth, bring out, furnish, supply
Original Word: פוּק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: puwq
Pronunciation: pook
Phonetic Spelling: (pook)
KJV: stumble, move
NASB: totter
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. to waver
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
stumble, move
A primitive root; to waver -- stumble, move.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto reel, totter
NASB Translationtotter (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [] ; —
Perfect3plural Isaiah 28:7 they reel (drunken, in giving) judgement ("" , , etc.); read probably also Imperfect3feminine singular Amos 2:13 tottereth (see ).
Imperfect
totter:3masculine singular Jeremiah 10:4 (of idol).
read probably also Participle Amos 2:13 cause tottering (see ).
Topical Lexicon
Overview The verb behind Strong’s Hebrew 6328 expresses the idea of reeling, tottering, or being caused to sway. Although it appears only twice in the Old Testament, each occurrence shines a penetrating light on human instability apart from the LORD and underscores the decisive contrast between faltering creatures and an unshakable Creator.
Occurrences in Scripture
• Isaiah 28:7
• Jeremiah 10:4
Isaiah 28:7 – Faltering Leadership
Addressed to the northern kingdom but echoing southward to Judah, Isaiah pictures priests and prophets incapacitated by drink: “And these also stagger with wine and reel from beer; priest and prophet stagger with strong drink; they are confused by wine; they reel from beer; they stagger while seeing visions and stumble in their judgments”. The verb conveys more than physical drunkenness; it symbolizes spiritual unsteadiness in those charged with guiding the nation. When a people’s shepherds sway, the flock is imperiled (compare Matthew 15:14). The verse thus warns against trusting leaders whose hearts are not anchored in the fear of the LORD.
Jeremiah 10:4 – The Futility of Idolatry
Jeremiah mocks handmade idols: “They adorn it with silver and gold. They secure it with hammer and nails so that it will not totter”. Ironically, worshipers must nail their gods in place to prevent them from doing what the verb denotes—swaying. The image exposes idolatry as a reversal of roles: the creator upholds what he calls “god,” while the true God upholds the universe (Hebrews 1:3). Here the verb underscores the impotence of idols and the folly of those who rely on them.
Historical Setting
Isaiah ministered during tumultuous decades marked by Assyrian aggression and internal decay; Jeremiah preached on the eve of Babylonian conquest. In both contexts, cultural pressures and foreign threats drove many to seek security in sensual indulgence or syncretistic worship. The appearance of this rare verb within those historical crises highlights how easily people, including spiritual leaders, lose balance when they abandon covenant faithfulness.
Theological Themes
1. Human Instability without God – Whether moral (Isaiah) or physical (Jeremiah), the wobbling described is symptomatic of hearts unmoored from divine truth.
2. Contrast with Divine Steadfastness – The Lord “will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on You” (Isaiah 26:3). His reliability magnifies the tragedy of those who wobble.
3. Judgment Beginning with Leadership – Isaiah’s use shows that accountability starts with those entrusted with revelation (James 3:1).
4. The Empty Promise of Idols – Jeremiah’s satire reveals that idolatry cannot provide genuine stability, preparing readers to receive Christ, the sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:6).
Ministry Implications
• Pastoral sobriety—literal and figurative—is essential. Shepherds must remain alert (1 Thessalonians 5:6–8).
• Discernment in worship: whatever must be propped up by human ingenuity cannot save.
• Apologetic use: Jeremiah 10:4 offers a biblical template for exposing modern idols—whether technology, wealth, or ideology—that promise security but require constant human maintenance.
Devotional Reflection
Believers are invited to examine areas of life that stagger under the influence of worldly “wine” or that must be “nailed down” to keep from toppling. The antidote is a renewed fixation on the unshakeable cornerstone: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Related Concepts
• Rock/Stone imagery (Psalm 18:2)
• Drunkenness as spiritual metaphor (Ephesians 5:18)
• Idolatry’s impotence (Psalm 115:4–8)
Conclusion
Strong’s 6328 may occur only twice, yet its message reverberates through Scripture: anything not rooted in the Lord totters. By contrast, those who trust in Him “shall never be shaken” (Psalm 112:6).
Forms and Transliterations
יָפִֽיק׃ יפיק׃ פָּק֖וּ פקו pā·qū paKu pāqū yā·p̄îq yaFik yāp̄îq
Links
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Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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