מְדַחְפָה
𐤌𐤃𐤇𐤐𐤄
mᵉdachphâh
H4073 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An act or state of pushing or being pushed, especially in the sense of physical force resulting in destruction, collapse, or ruin; can specifically refer to an event of violent overthrow or downfall, typically of a city or structure.
Semantic Range
push leading to ruin, act of overthrow, violent collapse, forcible expulsion, moment of destruction
Root / Etymology
From the verbal root דָּחַף (dāchaf), meaning 'to push, drive, thrust'. The noun מְדַחְפָה is a feminine abstract noun formation, indicating the result or state produced by pushing—namely, a 'driving out' or 'overthrow'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְדַחְפָה occurs in poetic or prophetic contexts, such as in Ezekiel, referring to the downfall or destructive collapse of cities or peoples. The term conveys a violent act of displacement or ruin caused by forceful action, often the result of siege or divine judgment. While some English translations render it 'ruin' or 'overthrow,' the underlying metaphor is more dynamic: the idea of something being physically pushed to destruction. The term appears only rarely, and is closely tied to prophetic language describing the fate of cities. In contrast, terms like חָרְבָּה (chorbah, 'desolation') or מַפָּלָה (mapalah, 'collapse') refer to the aftermath or state of destruction, while מְדַחְפָה focuses on the violent act or moment of overthrow. Subsequent translations or traditions may use 'ruin' or 'downfall,' but the distinct connotation of forceful expulsion or toppling is significant, especially in Ezekiel's context of divine judgment upon the nations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דָּחַף; a push, i.e. ruin; overthrow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דחף (d-ḥ-p) — push, thrust, drive away
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1765 | דָּחַף | driven ones |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4073-01 |
לְ/מַדְחֵפֹֽת | lemadechefot | HR/Ncfpa |
with thrusts | to violent overthrows | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4073-01 |
Psalms 140:12 | לְ/מַדְחֵפֹֽת | lemadechefot | HR/Ncfpa |
with thrusts | to violent overthrows |