מָזֶה
exhausted
Definition
The Hebrew noun מָזֶה (mâzeh) describes a state of being 'exhausted' or 'wasted away,' specifically from the effects of famine or severe hunger. It appears only in Deuteronomy 32:24, where it is part of a list of curses for disobedience, paired with 'Resheph' (a personification of plague or pestilence). The word conveys a sense of being consumed or drained to the point of physical depletion. While the KJV translates it as 'burnt,' modern lexicons and translations (like ESV, NIV) render it as 'wasting hunger' or 'famine,' emphasizing its role as a divine instrument of judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 32:24, within the Song of Moses. Here, it is employed in a poetic and prophetic context of covenant curses, describing the severe consequences of Israel's future rebellion against God. It is listed among other agents of divine judgment, such as pestilence, plague, and wild beasts, indicating its association with catastrophic famine that utterly consumes a people.
Etymology
מָזֶה is derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to suck out' or 'to drain.' This etymological background vividly informs its meaning, suggesting a process where life or vitality is extracted, leaving a state of exhaustion. While no direct cognates are certain in biblical Hebrew, the concept relates to other words for consumption and wasting away, rooted in the imagery of being emptied or depleted.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, מָזֶה carries significant theological weight as a specific instrument of God's covenant judgment. In Deuteronomy 32:24, it is not a random misfortune but a deliberate curse for idolatry and breach of covenant. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this passage by highlighting the severity and totality of the devastation promised for unfaithfulness, framing famine not merely as a natural disaster but as a direct consequence of broken relationship with God.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, famine was one of the most feared catastrophes, seen as a direct sign of divine displeasure or the activity of malevolent gods/deities. The use of מָזֶה in a covenant lawsuit song (Deuteronomy 32) aligns with this worldview, presenting exhaustive hunger as a covenant curse from Yahweh, the God of Israel, demonstrating His ultimate authority over life and sustenance.
רָעָב (raʿāv, H7458) — The common word for 'famine' or 'hunger,' denoting the condition itself, while מָזֶה specifies the exhausted state resulting from it. כָּלָה (kālâ, H3615) — Means to be complete, finished, or spent; can imply consumption or destruction, sharing the concept of an ending or depletion.
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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