מַחֲנַק
choking
Definition
מַחֲנַק (machănaq) is a Hebrew noun meaning 'choking' or 'strangling.' It refers to the physical act of constricting the throat, leading to suffocation or death. In its sole biblical occurrence in Job 7:15, it is used metaphorically to describe a sensation so oppressive it feels like physical strangulation. The word does not appear in legal or ritual contexts concerning food or sacrifice, unlike the related verbal root.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job. In Job 7:15, the suffering Job exclaims, 'so that I would choose strangling (מַחֲנַק) and death rather than my bones.' Here, it is a powerful metaphorical expression of extreme anguish and despair, where death by choking is presented as a preferable alternative to his ongoing physical and psychological torment.
Etymology
מַחֲנַק is a noun derived from the root חָנַק (ḥānaq, H2614), which means 'to strangle, choke, or throttle.' This root is also the source for terms related to the neck (e.g., חֲנִיקָה, choking) and appears in contexts of violence or execution. The noun form specifically denotes the means or instrument of choking.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it gives voice to the depth of human suffering and despair within the biblical narrative. In Job 7:15, it starkly illustrates the theme of lament, where a faithful individual expresses to God a desire for death over prolonged agony. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the raw, physical language of pain in Job's poetry, demonstrating that the Bible authentically engages with the darkest human emotions within the context of seeking God.
In the ancient Near East, strangulation could be a method of execution or violence. Job's choice of this specific term, rather than a more general word for death, evokes a visceral, violent end, intensifying the expression of his misery. This reflects a cultural understanding where metaphors drawn from bodily harm were potent tools in poetic lament.
חָנַק (ḥānaq, H2614) — the verbal root meaning 'to strangle.' מַחֲנַק is the noun derived from this 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.
Full methodology & sources →