מַדְקָרָה
a wound
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַדְקָרָה (madqârâh) refers specifically to a piercing wound or a stab wound, emphasizing a deep, penetrating injury. It is derived from the verb דָּקַר (dāqar), meaning 'to pierce' or 'to thrust through,' which conveys a sense of violence and sudden penetration. In its sole biblical occurrence in Proverbs 12:18, the word is used metaphorically to describe the damaging, piercing effect of reckless speech. This contrasts with the healing power of wise words, illustrating the profound impact language can have.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Proverbs 12:18: 'There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword.' Here, it is used in a wisdom context to depict the harmful, wounding power of careless or malicious words. The usage is entirely figurative, comparing harsh speech to a physical stabbing, highlighting the book of Proverbs' thematic concern with the consequences of speech.
Etymology
מַדְקָרָה is a feminine noun derived from the root דָּקַר (dāqar, H1856), which means 'to pierce, thrust through, stab.' This root is used for literal physical piercing, as in Zechariah 12:10 where people 'look on me whom they have pierced,' and for metaphorical piercing of the heart (as in Psalm 22:16). The noun form madqârâh specifically denotes the result of that action: the wound or puncture itself.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries significant theological weight regarding the power of speech. It connects physical violence to verbal harm, teaching that words can inflict deep, soul-level wounds (Proverbs 12:18). This enriches the biblical understanding of sin, showing that wrongdoing is not merely action but also speech that 'pierces' others. It underscores the wisdom theme that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
In ancient Near Eastern culture, where honor and social harmony were paramount, words that 'pierced' could damage reputations and relationships as severely as a physical attack. The metaphor of a sword's piercing would have been immediately understood in a society familiar with close-combat weapons, making the proverb's warning about speech vividly concrete and urgent.
פֶּצַע (petsaʿ, H6482) — a general term for a wound or bruise, often from strife. מַכָּה (makkâh, H4347) — a blow, stroke, or wound, frequently used for divinely inflicted plagues or injuries. צָרַעַת (tsaraʿath, H6883) — a specific skin disease or sore, often translated 'leprosy.'
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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