מַק
properly, a melting, i.e. putridity
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַק (maq) refers to a state of decay or putrefaction, specifically describing something that has become rotten or foul-smelling due to decomposition. It is derived from the concept of 'melting' or dissolving, indicating a process of deterioration. In its two biblical occurrences, it is used metaphorically to depict moral and spiritual corruption. In Isaiah 3:24, it describes a 'stench' replacing perfume as part of God's judgment on the pride of the women of Zion. In Isaiah 5:24, it illustrates the consequence for those who reject God's law: their root will become 'rottenness' and their blossom will blow away like dust.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the book of Isaiah. It is used exclusively in prophetic contexts of judgment. In Isaiah 3:24, it is part of a list of reversals where beauty becomes a 'stench' as divine punishment for societal pride and injustice. In Isaiah 5:24, it describes the foundational decay ('rottenness') of those who have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. The usage is consistently metaphorical, applying a physical concept of decay to spiritual and national conditions.
Etymology
The noun מַק (maq) comes from the root מָקַק (maqaq, H4743), which means 'to melt, dissolve, decay, or pine away.' This root conveys the idea of something wasting away or becoming liquid through corruption. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to being thin, weak, or languishing. The development from the verbal action of 'melting/decaying' to the noun 'rottenness' or 'putridity' is straightforward, emphasizing the end result of the process.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as a vivid metaphor for the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. It portrays divine judgment not merely as external punishment but as an internal, corrupting decay that destroys from within. In Isaiah, it underscores that rejecting God's law (Isaiah 5:24) and indulging in pride and injustice (Isaiah 3:24) leads to a foundational rottenness that makes societal and personal collapse inevitable. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by highlighting the organic and repulsive nature of spiritual corruption as God sees it.
In an ancient Near Eastern context without modern refrigeration or sanitation, physical rot and stench were powerful, immediate symbols of death, defilement, and curse. Something 'rotten' was unclean and to be avoided. The prophets used this tangible, sensory image to communicate the spiritual and social defilement that results from breaking covenant with God. The metaphor would have been more viscerally understood then than in many modern settings.
רָקָב (raqav, H7538) — another word for rot/decay, often used for wood or cloth; more literal. בָּאַשׁ (ba'ash, H887) — a verb meaning to stink or become odious; focuses on the smell rather than the state of decay.
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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