מָחַק
to crush
Definition
The Hebrew verb מָחַק (mâchaq) means 'to crush' or 'to strike off.' It describes a forceful, destructive action that results in breaking or shattering something. In its single biblical occurrence in Judges 5:26, it refers to Jael striking off the head of Sisera with a tent peg, depicting a sudden, violent blow. As a primitive root, its core meaning is to apply overwhelming force to destroy or disable an object or person.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:26). It appears in a poetic, narrative context describing Jael's lethal attack on the Canaanite commander Sisera. The usage is highly specific, portraying a decisive act of violence in a military setting. The verb emphasizes the crushing finality of the blow that ended Sisera's life.
Etymology
מָחַק is a primitive root in Hebrew, meaning it is not derived from another Hebrew word. It is related to the concept of striking or crushing. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian, support the meaning of 'to crush' or 'to pulverize.' The root conveys the idea of applying force to break something apart.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it highlights God's use of unexpected instruments (like Jael) to achieve victory and judgment. In Judges 5, it underscores the theme of divine deliverance through human agency, showing how God crushes the enemies of His people. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by emphasizing the shocking, decisive nature of God's intervention in the narrative.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, crushing an enemy's head was a symbol of total victory and humiliation. The act described in Judges 5:26 would have been understood as a definitive, graphic end to a military conflict, demonstrating complete dominance. The use of a tent peg, a common household item, as a weapon also subverts expectations, showing how God works through ordinary means.
כָּתַת (kâthath, H3807) — to crush or beat in pieces, often used for grinding or pounding; שָׁבַר (shâbar, H7665) — to break, shatter, or burst, with a wider range of physical and metaphorical uses.
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 →