מַעֲצֵבָה
anguish
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַעֲצֵבָה (maʻătsêbâh) refers to a state of deep emotional pain, specifically anguish or sorrow. It describes a profound, internal distress that weighs heavily on a person. In its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 50:11, it is paired with the imagery of fire, portraying the self-inflicted torment of those who walk by their own light instead of God's. The word conveys more than simple sadness; it implies a grief or misery that is actively experienced and felt.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 50:11. It appears in a prophetic warning, describing the inevitable consequence for those who rely on their own wisdom and kindle their own fires for light. The context is one of divine judgment, where the 'anguish' is the direct result of rejecting God's guidance. The singular usage makes it a unique and pointed term within prophetic literature.
Etymology
מַעֲצֵבָה is a feminine noun derived from the root עָצַב (ʿāṣab, H6087), which means 'to hurt, pain, grieve, or vex.' This root is also the source for words like עֶצֶב (ʿeṣeb, H6089), meaning 'pain' or 'sorrow.' The noun form מַעֲצֵבָה specifically denotes the state or experience of that grief, emphasizing the condition of being in pain.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the profound spiritual and emotional consequence of walking in rebellion against God. In Isaiah 50:11, the 'anguish' is not merely an external punishment but the inherent, consuming misery of a life lived apart from divine light. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this passage by highlighting that separation from God is itself a state of deep, internal torment, a truth echoed in the New Testament concept of being 'separated from the life of God' (Ephesians 4:18).
In ancient Israelite culture, emotional and physical pain were often closely linked. The anguish described by מַעֲצֵבָה would have been understood as a very real, tangible affliction of the soul, not just a fleeting mood. The metaphor of lying down in 'torment' (Isaiah 50:11) connects this emotional state to a physical posture of defeat and suffering.
עֶצֶב (ʿeṣeb, H6089) — A more general term for pain or sorrow, often physical. יָגוֹן (yāgôn, H3015) — Deep grief or mourning, often from loss. כְּאֵב (keʾēb, H3511) — Pain or sorrow, frequently emotional or mental anguish.
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.
Full methodology & sources →