מַקָּחָה
something received, i.e. merchandise (purchased)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַקָּחָה (maqqâchâh) refers specifically to merchandise that has been purchased or acquired through a transaction. It denotes goods that are 'taken' or 'received' in the context of trade. The word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Nehemiah 10:31, where it is used in a list of items that the people of Israel pledged not to buy from foreigners on the Sabbath or holy days. In this context, it broadly encompasses any kind of purchased commodity or ware.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Nehemiah 10:31. It appears in a legal and covenantal context, where the returned exiles are making a binding agreement to uphold the Torah. Specifically, they vow not to buy 'maqqâchâh' (merchandise) from neighboring peoples on the Sabbath. Its usage highlights the practical application of Sabbath law to economic activity and commerce in the restored community.
Etymology
מַקָּחָה is a feminine noun derived from the root לָקַח (lāqach, H3947), which means 'to take, receive, or buy.' The noun form carries a passive or resultative sense, meaning 'that which is taken' or 'that which is acquired.' It is related to other words for purchase and acquisition, emphasizing the act of obtaining goods.
Semantic Range
While a common commercial term, its single biblical occurrence carries theological weight. In Nehemiah 10:31, the vow concerning 'maqqâchâh' is part of a covenant renewal, directly linking economic practice to covenant faithfulness. By refusing to engage in commerce on the Sabbath, the people were setting themselves apart from surrounding nations and honoring God's command for rest and holiness. This underscores the principle that faith governs all areas of life, including business and economics.
In the ancient Near East, markets were often held on specific days, and the Sabbath would have been a prime market day if not for Israel's religious restrictions. The pledge in Nehemiah reflects a struggle to maintain a distinct Jewish identity and economic independence in a Persian province surrounded by other peoples. Controlling the purchase of 'merchandise' was a practical way to enforce Sabbath observance and limit cultural and economic assimilation.
מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735) — refers more specifically to livestock or property acquired as a possession. סְחוֹרָה (səḥôrâh, H5504) — a more general term for merchandise, goods, or articles of trade, often in the context of traveling merchants.
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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