מְבוּקָה

emptiness

Definition

The noun מְבוּקָה (mᵉbûwqâh) refers to a state of being emptied out, desolated, or made void. It describes a condition of complete depletion, often as a result of plunder or destruction, leaving nothing behind. In its sole biblical occurrence in Nahum 2:10, it vividly portrays the aftermath of God's judgment on Nineveh, where the great city is stripped and emptied of all its wealth and inhabitants. The word conveys a sense of total and devastating loss, moving beyond simple absence to an active state of being ransacked and left barren.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Nahum 2:10. It is employed in a prophetic context of judgment, specifically describing the fate of Nineveh. The prophet Nahum uses it to depict the comprehensive and shocking result of God's wrath: 'Desolation, decimation, devastation! Hearts faint, knees tremble, anguish is in all loins, and all their faces grow pale! Where is the lions' den, the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled, and the lion's cub, with nothing to disturb? The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh. Behold, I am against you—declares the LORD of Hosts—and I will burn her chariots in smoke, and a sword will devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers will never again be heard.' (Nahum 2:10-13, ESV). The term 'מְבוּקָה' (emptiness) caps off the description of the city's plundered state.

Etymology

מְבוּקָה (mᵉbûwqâh) is a noun derived from the root בּוּק (bûq), which means 'to be empty' or 'to seek out' (as in searching until something is emptied). It is related to the noun בּוּקָה (bûqâh, H4002), meaning 'emptiness' or 'void.' The root conveys the idea of making something hollow or desolate through a thorough process, such as looting or exhaustive searching. This derivation emphasizes that the emptiness is an active result, not a passive state.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the severe and complete nature of divine judgment. In Nahum, it underscores that God's judgment against evil and oppression (represented by Nineveh) is total and leaves nothing untouched. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of prophecy by highlighting the thoroughness of God's justice—He does not merely punish but brings a situation to a state of absolute desolation, fulfilling His word of warning. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rebellion against God and the ultimate futility of human power and wealth without Him.

In the ancient Near Eastern context, a city being 'emptied' (מְבוּקָה) was the ultimate catastrophe. It meant not just military defeat but the total loss of population (through death or exile), wealth, livestock, and cultural identity—essentially, the erasure of the city's existence. For the original audience of Nahum, who were familiar with Assyrian brutality, this prophecy of Nineveh's future emptiness would have been a powerful image of poetic justice and divine reversal.

בּוּקָה (bûqâh, H4002) — A nearly identical noun also meaning 'emptiness' or 'void,' used in Isaiah 34:11. תֹּהוּ (tôhû, H8414) — 'formlessness' or 'waste,' describing primordial chaos (Genesis 1:2) or a desolate place. שַׁמָּה (shammâh, H8047) — 'desolation' or 'horror,' often used for land laid waste due to judgment.

Word Details

Scripture References