מַגְפִּיעָשׁ
Magpiash, an Israelite
Definition
Magpiash is a proper name of an Israelite who appears once in the Old Testament as one of the leaders who sealed the covenant of renewal with Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:20). As a personal name, it carries no other major senses or meanings in the biblical text. The name itself is significant, likely derived from a combination of Hebrew roots meaning 'exterminator of the moth,' which may have been given as a symbolic or aspirational name. Its single occurrence identifies him among the prominent figures who committed to following God's law after the return from exile.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively as a proper noun, appearing only in Nehemiah 10:20. In this context, Magpiash is listed among the leaders, priests, Levites, and heads of the people who formally sealed a binding agreement to obey God's law. The usage is purely identificatory, placing him within the historical record of the post-exilic community's renewal of their covenant with God.
Etymology
The name Magpiash (מַגְפִּיעָשׁ) is a compound, likely derived from the Hebrew root נָגַף (nagaph, H5062), meaning 'to strike' or 'smite,' and עָשׁ (ʻash, H6211), meaning 'moth.' An alternative proposed root is גּוּף (gûph, H1479), 'body.' Thus, the name is interpreted as 'exterminator of (the) moth' or 'one who strikes the moth,' possibly symbolizing the destruction of something fragile or corrupt. This follows a common Hebrew practice of giving meaningful, often theophoric or descriptive names.
Semantic Range
While the individual Magpiash is not a major figure, his inclusion in the covenant list in Nehemiah 10 is theologically significant. It highlights the corporate nature of Israel's repentance and commitment to God's law after the exile. Each name, including his, represents a leader who took personal responsibility for the community's faithfulness. Understanding the meaning of his name—'exterminator of the moth'—can symbolically remind readers of the call to remove corruption and fragility from one's spiritual life, aligning with the covenant's call to holiness.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive or conveyed hopes about the child's character or destiny. A name like Magpiash, meaning 'exterminator of the moth,' might reflect a desire for the child to be a destroyer of what is corrupting or fragile, as moths were associated with destruction (e.g., of clothing in Job 13:28). As a leader sealing the covenant, his name, even if inherited, would have been part of his public identity in a community deeply conscious of symbolic meanings.
No direct synonyms as it is a unique proper name. Other covenant signatories in Nehemiah 10, like Hashum (H2828) or Hashabnah (H2812), are distinct individuals.
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 →