תְּמוּתָה

תְּמוּתָה

execution (as a doom)

Definition

The noun תְּמוּתָה (tᵉmûwthâh) refers specifically to a death that is imposed as a judicial sentence or a divinely decreed doom. It denotes an execution or a death penalty, carrying a strong sense of legal or divine judgment. In Psalm 79:11, it describes the 'sentence of death' for prisoners, emphasizing a judicial context. In Psalm 102:20, it refers to those 'appointed to death,' likely prisoners facing execution, highlighting the concept of a predetermined, fatal judgment.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the Psalms (Psalm 79:11 and Psalm 102:20). In both instances, it describes the fate of prisoners or those under a severe, seemingly hopeless judgment. The context is consistently one of lament, where the psalmist cries out to God concerning the plight of the condemned, linking human execution with the broader theme of divine deliverance from mortal danger.

Etymology

The word is a feminine noun derived directly from the root מוּת (mûth, H4191), meaning 'to die.' The specific form תְּמוּתָה intensifies the sense of the root, focusing on the event or state of death as an outcome, particularly one that is decreed or inflicted. It is related to the more common noun for death, מָוֶת (mâweth, H4194).

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it connects human acts of judicial execution with the overarching biblical theme of divine judgment. It appears in psalms of lament, reminding readers that God hears the cries of those under sentence of death and is the ultimate arbiter of life and death. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these psalms by highlighting the gravity of the situation—it's not just any death, but a death pronounced by authority, making the plea for God's intervention all the more urgent and profound. In the ancient Near East, including Israel, execution was a legal punishment for certain crimes. The use of this term reflects a cultural context where judicial authority, whether human or divine, had the power to impose death as a sentence. This differs from a modern, more clinical understanding of 'death,' as תְּמוּתָה inherently carries the weight of legal procedure and sovereign decree. מָוֶת (mâweth, H4194) — The general, common term for 'death' from any cause. תְּמוּתָה specifies a death that is a judicial sentence or doom.

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