Bible Word Study
מַחֲנַק
machănaq · choking
מַחֲנַק
choking
Definition
מַחֲנַק (machănaq) is a Hebrew noun meaning 'choking' or 'strangling.' It refers to the physical act of constricting the throat, leading to suffocation or death. In its sole biblical occurrence in Job 7:15, it is used metaphorically to describe a sensation so oppressive it feels like physical strangulation. The word does not appear in legal or ritual contexts concerning food or sacrifice, unlike the related verbal root.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job. In Job 7:15, the suffering Job exclaims, 'so that I would choose strangling (מַחֲנַק) and death rather than my bones.' Here, it is a powerful metaphorical expression of extreme anguish and despair, where death by choking is presented as a preferable alternative to his ongoing physical and psychological torment.
Etymology
מַחֲנַק is a noun derived from the root חָנַק (ḥānaq, H2614), which means 'to strangle, choke, or throttle.' This root is also the source for terms related to the neck (e.g., חֲנִיקָה, choking) and appears in contexts of violence or execution. The noun form specifically denotes the means or instrument of choking.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it gives voice to the depth of human suffering and despair within the biblical narrative. In Job 7:15, it starkly illustrates the theme of lament, where a faithful individual expresses to God a desire for death over prolonged agony. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the raw, physical language of pain in Job's poetry, demonstrating that the Bible authentically engages with the darkest human emotions within the context of seeking God. In the ancient Near East, strangulation could be a method of execution or violence. Job's choice of this specific term, rather than a more general word for death, evokes a visceral, violent end, intensifying the expression of his misery. This reflects a cultural understanding where metaphors drawn from bodily harm were potent tools in poetic lament. חָנַק (ḥānaq, H2614) — the verbal root meaning 'to strangle.' מַחֲנַק is the noun derived from this action.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]