מָעַךְ
to press, i.e. to pierce, emasculate, handle
Definition
The Hebrew verb מָעַךְ (mâʻak) fundamentally means 'to press' or 'to squeeze,' but its specific meaning varies by context. In Leviticus 22:24, it describes the crushing or bruising of animal testicles, a form of mutilation that disqualifies an animal from being offered as a sacrifice. In 1 Samuel 26:7, it refers to Saul's spear being 'stuck' or 'thrust' into the ground. In 2 Kings 20:11, it describes the sun's shadow 'going back' or being 'pressed back' on the steps of Ahaz, a miraculous sign. Finally, in Ezekiel 23:3, it is used metaphorically for the 'handling' or fondling of the breasts in a description of promiscuity.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only four times in the Old Testament, each in a distinct context that shapes its meaning. It appears in legal material (Leviticus), historical narrative (1 Samuel, 2 Kings), and prophetic metaphor (Ezekiel). There is no single pattern, as the usage shifts from physical crushing (Lev. 22:24) and piercing (1 Sam. 26:7) to a supernatural reversal (2 Kings 20:11) and a metaphorical sexual touch (Ezek. 23:3). This demonstrates how a basic sense of applying pressure is adapted to very different situations.
Etymology
מָעַךְ is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to applying pressure, squeezing, or crushing. Cognates in other Semitic languages support this sense of pressing down or compressing. The development of its specific biblical meanings—from physical bruising to metaphorical handling—stems from applying this core idea to diverse objects and actions.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant in two key passages. In Leviticus 22:24, it underscores the requirement for sacrificial animals to be without physical defect, symbolizing wholeness and purity in offerings to God. In 2 Kings 20:11, the use of מָעַךְ for the shadow being 'pressed back' is central to the miraculous sign God gave Hezekiah, demonstrating God's sovereign power over creation and time to confirm His promise.
In its Levitical usage, the prohibition against offering an animal with 'crushed' (mâʻak) testicles reflects ancient Near Eastern cultural and agricultural practices, where such mutilation was sometimes performed but was considered a desecration for a sacred offering. This law set Israel's worship apart, emphasizing the integrity of what was dedicated to God.
דָּכָא (dāḵāʼ, H1792) — to crush, trample; often used for more violent or complete crushing, especially in a figurative sense (e.g., a contrite spirit). שָׁבַר (šāḇar, H7665) — to break, shatter; implies a breaking into pieces, often of bones or nations, rather than a pressing action.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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