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H6311 · Hebrew · Old Testament
פֹּה
Poh
Adverb
Here / In This Place

Definition

The Hebrew adverb poh (פֹּה) simply means 'here' or 'in this place.' Though a small word, it appears in several theologically weighty contexts in the OT, marking key moments of divine encounter and human response.

Usage & Theological Significance

The word poh appears in moments that define identity and calling. When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush, Moses replies 'Here I am' (hinneni), and God says 'Do not come any closer — remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground' (Exodus 3:5). The ground beneath one's feet becomes sacred by divine presence. When Elijah flees to Horeb, God asks 'What are you doing here (poh), Elijah?' (1 Kings 19:9,13) — a question not of geography but of calling. Poh thus invites existential reflection: Where has God placed me? Am I present where He has called me to be?

Key Bible Verses

Exodus 3:5 God said, 'Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'
1 Kings 19:9 He came to a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'
2 Samuel 18:30 The king said, 'Stand aside and wait here.' So he stepped aside and stood there.
Numbers 22:8 Balaam said to them, 'Spend the night here, and I will report back to you with whatever answer the LORD gives me.'
Ruth 4:2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, 'Sit here,' and they did so.

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