מַפָּל

מַפָּל

a falling off, i.e. chaff; also something pendulous, i.e. a flap

Definition

The Hebrew noun מַפָּל (mappâl) primarily refers to something that falls off or is discarded. Its most concrete meaning is 'chaff' or 'refuse'—the worthless byproduct left after threshing grain. In Job 41:23, it describes the 'flakes' of Leviathan's skin, which are shed like refuse. The word can also denote something 'pendulous' or hanging down, like a 'flap,' as implied in Amos 8:6 in the context of selling the 'refuse' of wheat, which may evoke the image of the worthless, dangling parts of the grain.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only twice in the Old Testament. In Job 41:23, it is used poetically to describe the 'flakes' of the sea monster Leviathan's skin that are cast off and are hard like pottery. In Amos 8:6, it is used in a prophetic condemnation, referring to selling the 'refuse' (or chaff) of the wheat, depicting unethical merchants exploiting the poor by selling worthless grain. Both uses emphasize something discarded or of little value.

Etymology

Derived from the root נָפַל (nāphal, H5307), meaning 'to fall.' מַפָּל is a noun form indicating 'a falling thing' or 'that which falls off.' This root connection clearly informs its meanings of chaff (what falls away during winnowing) and flakes (what falls off a surface).

Semantic Range

Though not a major theological term, מַפָּל enriches passages by highlighting themes of worthlessness and judgment. In Amos 8:6, it underscores the depth of social injustice—treating people as contemptible as chaff. In Job 41:23, it contributes to the description of Leviathan's terrifying, impenetrable nature, symbolizing chaotic evil that God alone can master. Understanding it as 'discarded refuse' deepens the imagery of moral and spiritual corruption. In an agrarian society, chaff was a universal symbol of worthlessness, as it was separated from edible grain and burned (cf. Psalm 1:4). The term in Amos would immediately convey deception and exploitation to an ancient audience familiar with grain trade. The 'flakes' in Job evoke the casting off of dead skin, an image of shedding or impermanence. מֹץ (mots, H4671) — the more common word for 'chaff,' specifically the husks blown away by wind. אֶפְרוֹחַ (ʾephrôaḥ, H4651) — a homonym, but means 'young bird' or 'nestling,' unrelated in meaning.

Word Details