מַדְקָרָה
𐤌𐤃𐤒𐤓𐤄
madqârâh
H4094 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An act or instance of piercing, stabbing, or being pierced; a stab wound or puncture. The term specifically denotes a physical injury caused by penetration with a sharp object, and in context refers to the effect of such action rather than the act itself.
Semantic Range
stab wound, piercing, puncture wound, act of stabbing or piercing
Root / Etymology
From the root דקר meaning 'to pierce, stab, thrust through.' מַדְקָרָה is a feminine noun formed with the mem-prefix (מַ-) and the -ah suffix, indicating either the result of the action or an event characterized by the root activity — here, a wound caused by stabbing or piercing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מַדְקָרָה is found in poetic or prophetic contexts to describe the result of violence, often in settings that emphasize the aftermath of strife or battle. The connotation is distinct from general words for 'wound' (e.g., פֶּצַע) by focusing on the nature of the injury — that it is specifically the result of piercing or stabbing, not blunt trauma or generic injury. English translations like 'wound' or 'stab' sometimes obscure this nuance. The term does not carry religious or ritual significance; its usage is literal and descriptive. Over time, the Hebrew language developed additional terms for various wounds, but מַדְקָרָה remains specific, without significant semantic shift in later periods, and does not acquire metaphorical or spiritual meanings in the biblical canon.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דָּקַר; a wound; piercing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דקר (d-q-r) — to pierce, to stab, to thrust through
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4094-01 |
כְּ/מַדְקְר֣וֹת | kemadeqerot | HR/Ncfpc |
like piercings | like stab-wounds of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4094-01 |
Proverbs 12:18 | כְּ/מַדְקְר֣וֹת | kemadeqerot | HR/Ncfpc |
like piercings | like stab-wounds of |