מוֹט
to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall
Definition
The Hebrew verb מוֹט (môwṭ) primarily means 'to slip, totter, or shake,' describing a loss of stability, whether physical or metaphorical. In a literal sense, it can refer to the shaking of the earth (Psalm 46:2) or the slipping of one's foot (Psalm 38:16). Metaphorically, it often describes moral or spiritual wavering, such as a heart that is not steadfast (Psalm 13:4) or the security of the righteous who will not be moved (Psalm 15:5). In some contexts, it implies a complete fall or collapse, as in the destruction of the wicked (Deuteronomy 32:35).
Biblical Usage
The word appears 36 times, predominantly in poetic and wisdom literature (Psalms, Job, Proverbs) and in Deuteronomy. It is used to describe physical instability, like the shaking of mountains (1 Chronicles 16:30), and moral/spiritual instability, such as the assurance that God upholds the faithful so they 'shall not be moved' (Psalm 16:8). In legal contexts, it can refer to economic collapse or being cast down, as in the support for a brother whose 'hand slips' or fails (Leviticus 25:35).
Etymology
A primitive root, מוֹט is related to the idea of wavering or slipping. Cognates in other Semitic languages support meanings of shaking or tottering. The root conveys a fundamental sense of instability, from which derived nouns like מַטָּה (maṭṭâ, 'staff, rod') may conceptually relate to something that provides support against slipping.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it contrasts human instability with divine steadfastness. The promise that the righteous 'shall not be moved' (Psalm 15:5) underscores God's role as the secure foundation for life and faith. Understanding מוֹט enriches reading by highlighting the biblical theme of reliance on God's unchanging support versus the peril of moral slippage without Him, a key concept in wisdom and covenantal literature.
In an ancient Near Eastern context, stability was closely tied to land, social standing, and covenant faithfulness. The fear of 'slipping' encompassed not just physical danger but social and economic ruin, as seen in laws about supporting a neighbor in financial decline (Leviticus 25:35). This holistic view of stability differs from modern individualistic perspectives.
כָּשַׁל (kāšal, H3782) — to stumble or fall, often from weakness; נָטָה (nāṭâ, H5186) — to stretch out, incline, or bend, sometimes implying a turn away; מָעַד (māʿaḏ, H4571) — to slip or stagger, similar but less common.
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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