מַקְצוֹעַ
an angle or recess
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַקְצוֹעַ primarily refers to an architectural feature, specifically an 'angle' or 'recess' formed where two walls meet. In the construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:24, 36:29), it describes the corner joints that gave the structure stability. In later texts, such as Nehemiah 3:19-25, it denotes a specific corner or turning point along the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem, often marking a strategic defensive position or a boundary between work crews. In Ezekiel's temple vision (Ezekiel 41:22), it is used for the corners of an altar, emphasizing its precise, crafted form.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in architectural or construction contexts within the Old Testament. Its ten occurrences are found in detailed building descriptions: the tabernacle (Exodus), Jerusalem's wall (Nehemiah), King Uzziah's defensive towers (2 Chronicles 26:9), and Ezekiel's visionary temple. In Nehemiah, it is used repeatedly to pinpoint specific locations along the wall's circuit (e.g., Nehemiah 3:24, 3:25), functioning almost as a surveyor's term.
Etymology
Derived from the root קָצַע (H7106), which means 'to cut off' or 'to scrape.' In a denominative sense, it developed the meaning 'to make a corner' or 'to angle,' relating to the idea of cutting or shaping materials to form a joint. The noun forms (masculine מַקְצוֹעַ/מַקְצֹעַ and feminine מַקְצֹעָה) specifically denote the resulting corner or recess.
Semantic Range
While primarily an architectural term, מַקְצוֹעַ gains theological significance in contexts of sacred space. In the tabernacle and temple descriptions, these precisely crafted corners (Exodus 26:24, Ezekiel 41:22) reflect the order, stability, and intentional design of God's dwelling place among His people. In Nehemiah, the corners of Jerusalem's wall (Nehemiah 3:19-20) symbolize the completeness and protection God provides for His restored community, turning points in both physical and spiritual restoration.
In ancient Near Eastern construction, corners were critical for structural integrity. A well-built corner (מַקְצוֹעַ) in a city wall was a defensible strongpoint. The term implies a deliberate, reinforced junction, not a casual meeting of lines. This differs from a modern, abstract understanding of a 'corner' and carries connotations of strength, meeting, and defined transition.
פִּנָּה (pinnah, H6438) — a more common word for 'corner,' often of a building or street, sometimes with a connotation of prominence or chief position. כָּנָף (kanaph, H3671) — can mean 'extremity' or 'corner' of a garment or the earth, but more broadly 'wing' or 'edge.' זָוִית (zavith, H2106) — a later biblical word (only in 1 Kings 7:34) also meaning 'corner,' specifically of a stand or base.
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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