מִבְרָח
a refugee
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִבְרָח (mibrâch) refers specifically to a refugee or fugitive, someone who has fled from danger or persecution. It describes a person in a state of forced displacement, having escaped from a threatening situation. In its sole biblical occurrence, Ezekiel 17:21, it is used in a military and judicial context, referring to soldiers who flee from battle and are subsequently captured. The term carries the connotation of being a 'fugitive from justice' or one who is hunted after their escape.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 17:21. It appears in a prophecy of judgment against Pharaoh's army and those who allied with him. The context is the aftermath of a military defeat, where the 'fugitives' (מִבְרָח) are specifically those who manage to flee the battlefield but are then captured and put to the sword. This singular usage paints a vivid picture of complete and inescapable divine judgment.
Etymology
מִבְרָח is a masculine noun derived from the root בָּרַח (bārach, H1272), which means 'to flee,' 'to run away,' or 'to escape.' The noun form is a miqtal pattern, which often indicates the place or instrument of an action, but here denotes the person who performs the action—'one who flees.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic 'baraha' (to flee), reinforcing the core idea of sudden, urgent escape.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the biblical theme of God's sovereign judgment. In Ezekiel 17, the 'fugitives' represent the futile attempt to escape God's decree. Their capture underscores that no one can ultimately flee from God's justice (cf. Amos 9:1-4). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the completeness of God's judgment—even those who momentarily escape are not beyond His reach, a sobering reminder of divine accountability.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a מִבְרָח was not merely a displaced person but often a defeated soldier or a political dissenter fleeing for his life. Survival for such a fugitive was precarious, relying on finding asylum in another city or nation. Ezekiel's prophecy subverts this cultural reality, showing that when God executes judgment, there is no safe haven or city of refuge for those He has condemned.
פָּלִיט (pālîṭ, H6412) — a more common term for 'escapee' or 'survivor,' often with a neutral or positive connotation of deliverance (Genesis 14:13; 2 Kings 19:30). נָס (nās, H5127) — a participle meaning 'one who flees,' focusing more on the act of fleeing itself.
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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