מַרְגֵּעָה
rest
Definition
The noun מַרְגֵּעָה (margêʻâh) refers to a state of rest, refreshing, or relief from toil or distress. It specifically denotes a place or condition of repose and comfort, often granted by God. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 28:12, it describes the 'resting place' or 'refreshing' that God offered to His people, contrasting with their refusal to listen. The concept is closely tied to divine provision of peace and cessation from struggle.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 28:12. It appears in a prophetic context where God, through the prophet, reminds Judah that He had offered them 'rest' and 'refreshing' (using מַרְגֵּעָה alongside the synonym מְנוּחָה, menuchah), but they would not hear. The usage highlights a divinely given respite from political and spiritual turmoil, which the people rejected.
Etymology
Derived from the root רָגַע (ragaʻ, H7280), meaning 'to be at rest,' 'to settle,' or 'to quiet.' This root conveys the idea of ceasing motion or agitation. מַרְגֵּעָה is a feminine noun form indicating the place or state resulting from that action. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to tranquility and peace.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates God's desire to provide spiritual rest and refreshment to His people. In Isaiah 28:12, it represents the covenantal rest God offers, which prefigures the ultimate rest found in Christ (cf. Matthew 11:28-29). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the biblical theme of God as the source of true peace and cessation from striving, contrasting human rebellion with divine invitation.
In ancient Israelite culture, 'rest' (מַרְגֵּעָה) was not merely physical relaxation but often carried covenantal overtones, associated with God's promises of land, security, and peace from enemies (e.g., as seen in the concept of Sabbath). The rejection of this divinely offered rest in Isaiah reflects a deeper spiritual disobedience and trust in human alliances instead of God.
מְנוּחָה (menuchah, H4496) — a more common term for rest, often referring to a settled state of peace or inheritance; נָחַת (nachath, H5183) — to descend, settle, or rest, emphasizing coming down to a place of quiet; שָׁבַת (shavat, H7673) — to cease or desist, focusing on the stopping of activity.
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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