מָצַץ
to suck
Definition
The Hebrew verb מָצַץ (mâtsats) means 'to suck,' specifically referring to the action of drawing liquid, such as milk, into the mouth. It is used in the Old Testament in a literal, physical sense. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Isaiah 66:11, where it describes nursing infants 'sucking' and being satisfied from Jerusalem's consoling breast. There are no other attested metaphorical or extended meanings for this verb in the biblical corpus.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Isaiah 66:11. It appears in a prophetic context of future blessing and comfort for God's people. The usage is literal, describing the natural act of an infant nursing. The verse employs this physical image metaphorically to portray the spiritual nourishment and abundant satisfaction that Zion (Jerusalem) will provide.
Etymology
מָצַץ (mâtsats) is a primitive root verb in Hebrew. It is related to other Semitic roots that convey the idea of sucking or drawing liquid. A closely related Hebrew word is יָנַק (yânaq, H3243), which also means 'to suck' or 'to nurse,' though יָנַק can have a broader sense of giving suck or being a nursing mother.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant in its context. In Isaiah 66:11, the physical act of 'sucking' is a powerful metaphor for complete dependence, intimate provision, and deep satisfaction found in God's promises and presence. It enriches the reading by grounding the abstract concept of divine comfort in the tangible, universal experience of a nourished child, highlighting God's nurturing character and the abundant blessings of the messianic age.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a mother nursing her child was a primary and vital image of sustenance, care, and bond. The ability of an infant to 'suck' and be satisfied was directly tied to survival and well-being. This cultural understanding makes the metaphor in Isaiah 66:11 immediately resonant, portraying God's provision as fundamental, life-giving, and intimately personal.
יָנַק (yânaq, H3243) — Often translated 'to suck' or 'to nurse'; can refer to the infant's action or the mother's act of giving suck, thus having a slightly broader semantic range than מָצַץ.
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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