מְגִנָּה
a covering (in a bad sense), i.e. blindness or obduracy
Definition
The Hebrew noun מְגִנָּה (mᵉginnâh) refers to a covering, but specifically in a negative or harmful sense. It denotes a spiritual or mental covering that results in blindness, obduracy (hardness of heart), or sorrow. In its sole biblical occurrence in Lamentations 3:65, it describes a divinely imposed 'covering of the heart,' which is a state of spiritual insensitivity or a curse of confusion and sorrow given to one's enemies. The word carries the dual sense of both a protective shield turned inward as a punishment and the resulting inner anguish.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Lamentations 3:65. Here, the prophet Jeremiah, in a lament over Jerusalem's destruction, petitions God: 'Give them sorrow of heart, your curse to them.' The term is used in a judicial, imprecatory context, asking God to afflict the enemies of God's people with a spiritual blindness and deep grief as a form of divine retribution. Its usage is poetic and prophetic, found within a book of mourning.
Etymology
מְגִנָּה is a feminine noun derived from the root מָגַן (māgan, H4042), which means 'to cover, protect, or shield.' This root is also the source for the common word for 'shield,' מָגֵן (māgēn, H4043). The development from a positive 'protective covering' (a shield) to the negative מְגִנָּה illustrates how a covering can be turned from defense into an affliction—a shield that blinds or a protection that becomes a curse of sorrow.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it portrays a severe form of divine judgment. It connects God's sovereignty in hardening hearts (cf. Exodus, Romans) with the experiential result of deep sorrow and spiritual confusion. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Lamentations 3:65 by revealing that the requested 'sorrow' is not merely emotional but a judicial, spiritual condition—a withdrawal of God's enlightening grace, leaving one in darkness and distress. It underscores the biblical theme that rebellion against God ultimately leads to a self-inflicted and God-confirmed blindness.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, a 'covering' or 'shield' was a primary means of defense in warfare. The inversion of this image—using a shield not to protect but to blind and afflict—would have been a powerful metaphor for a curse. It signified a complete reversal of fortune and divine favor, where the very thing meant for safety becomes an instrument of punishment and misery.
מָגֵן (māgēn, H4043) — The common word for 'shield,' denoting physical and divine protection, whereas מְגִנָּה is its negative, afflictive counterpart. כִּסּוּי (kissûy, H3682) — A more general term for a covering or concealment, without the inherent negative or judicial connotation of מְגִנָּה.
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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