מַלְתָּעָה
a grinder, i.e. back tooth
Definition
The Hebrew word מַלְתָּעָה (maltâʻâh) refers specifically to a 'grinder' or 'back tooth,' likely a molar. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 58:6, where it is used metaphorically. In this verse, the psalmist prays for God to break the 'great teeth' (KJV) or 'fangs' of the wicked, symbolizing the destruction of their violent power. The term emphasizes the crushing, grinding function of these teeth, which are associated with predatory aggression. No other biblical passages use this word, so its meaning is confined to this singular, vivid metaphorical context.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Psalm 58:6. Its usage is entirely poetic and metaphorical. The context is an imprecatory psalm where David calls for God's judgment against unjust rulers. The 'grinders' or 'great teeth' represent the destructive capacity of the wicked, which the psalmist asks God to shatter. There are no patterns of literal usage; it serves solely as a powerful image of disabling violent oppression.
Etymology
The word מַלְתָּעָה (maltâʻâh) is considered a transposed or variant form of מְתַלְּעָה (methalleʻâh, H4973), which also means 'great tooth' or 'jaw tooth.' Both nouns derive from the root לָעַע (lāʻaʻ), meaning 'to swallow' or 'to devour.' This root connection highlights the tooth's function in chewing and consuming. The transposition likely represents a dialectical or poetic variation, preserving the core idea of a crushing tooth.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries theological weight in the context of divine justice. In Psalm 58, it contributes to the imagery of God confronting and dismantling systemic evil. The prayer to break the 'teeth' of the wicked affirms God's ultimate authority over oppressive power and violence. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by clarifying the psalmist's specific plea: not just for punishment, but for the disarming of the mechanisms (symbolized by crushing teeth) that the wicked use to devour the innocent. It connects to the biblical theme of God as the defender of the vulnerable.
In the ancient Near East, teeth, especially the large molars or 'great teeth' of predators, were common symbols of ferocity, strength, and destructive capability. Breaking someone's teeth was a proverbial image for rendering an enemy harmless, found in other ancient texts. This cultural understanding makes the metaphor in Psalm 58:6 immediately recognizable to the original audience: a prayer for God to completely neutralize the threat posed by violent oppressors, stripping them of their ability to 'chew up' their victims.
שֵׁן (shēn, H8127) — the common Hebrew word for 'tooth'; a general term. מְתַלְּעָה (methalleʻâh, H4973) — the direct variant form, also meaning 'great tooth' or 'jaw tooth.'
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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