מַטְבֵּחַ
slaughter
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַטְבֵּחַ (maṭbêach) refers to a place of slaughter, specifically a slaughterhouse or a designated area where animals are butchered. It denotes a location associated with violent killing, often in a judicial or punitive context. In its sole biblical occurrence, Isaiah 14:21, it is used metaphorically to describe a place of judgment and destruction prepared for the offspring of a tyrant, emphasizing complete eradication.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 14:21. It is used in a prophetic oracle of judgment against Babylon. The context is the proclamation of punishment for the king of Babylon's descendants, with God commanding, 'Prepare slaughter for his children.' Here, 'slaughter' (מַטְבֵּחַ) symbolizes a divinely ordained place of utter destruction, extending the judgment from the tyrant to his lineage.
Etymology
מַטְבֵּחַ is a noun derived from the root טָבַח (ṭāḇaḥ, H2873), which means 'to slaughter' or 'to butcher.' This root is commonly used for the slaughtering of animals, both for sacrifice (e.g., Exodus 12:6) and for food. The noun form indicates the place where this action occurs. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic 'dhabaḥa' (to sacrifice), pointing to a shared cultural concept of ritual slaughter.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, מַטְבֵּחַ carries significant theological weight in its context. It underscores the theme of divine justice and the complete eradication of evil lineages, as seen in God's judgment on oppressive kingdoms. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Isaiah 14 by highlighting the finality and severity of God's judgment against pride and tyranny, connecting to broader biblical themes of God's sovereignty over nations and the consequences of sin.
In ancient Israelite culture, slaughtering animals was a common practice for food and sacrifice, often done at a designated area. A מַטְבֵּחַ would have been understood as a practical, bloody location. Isaiah's metaphorical use transforms this mundane concept into a powerful image of judicial execution and desolation, leveraging the audience's familiarity with the physical place to convey the horror of divine punishment.
טֶבַח (ṭeḇaḥ, H2874) — The more common noun for 'slaughter' or 'slain bodies,' often referring to the act or result of killing in battle or judgment (e.g., Ezekiel 21:15). זֶבַח (zeḇaḥ, H2077) — Primarily means 'sacrifice' or 'slaughter for ritual offering,' focusing on the religious context (e.g., Exodus 12:27).
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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