מָכַךְ
𐤌𐤊𐤊
mâkak
H4355 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To melt away or be dissolved, primarily in the sense of physical disintegration (such as a structure collapsing or material liquefying), and metaphorically of persons or communities experiencing ruin, complete collapse, or perishing. The term encompasses states of being brought low, wasting away, or decaying, whether due to natural processes, divine judgment, or overwhelming fear.
Semantic Range
to melt away, dissolve, collapse (physically or morally), decay, perish, waste away, be brought low, lose strength
Root / Etymology
Root: מכך (m-k-k). The root conveys the general idea of liquefaction, melting, or disintegration. מָכַךְ is the verbal form, denoting the process of melting or dissolving, both literally and figuratively. The derived forms and related terms point to the notion of disappearance or destruction via dissolution.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מָכַךְ is an uncommon biblical term, found primarily in poetic or prophetic literature, where it often conveys an image of total destruction, collapse, or emotional dissolution. The melting imagery aligns with both natural phenomena (buildings crumbling, metals melting, organic decay) and intense existential or communal distress (fear overwhelming the heart, loss of strength or vigor). In post-exilic and Second Temple Hebrew, the notion of melting or wasting away continued to be employed in literary contexts. The contrast with terms like חָרַב (to be ruined, laid waste) lies in מָכַךְ focusing on inward decay/disintegration rather than mere external destruction. English versions often obscure the physical-metaphoric blend by translating as 'perish,' 'decay,' or 'be brought low,' but the primary sense involves the process of dissolution, not just the final state.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to tumble (in ruins); figuratively, to perish; be brought low, decay.
Bantu Hebrew
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מכך (m-k-k) — melt, dissolve, liquefy, disintegrate
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4355-03 |
יִמַּ֣ךְ | yimakhe | HVNi3ms |
decays | he will melt away | 1 | |
H4355-01 |
וַ֝/יָּמֹ֗כּוּ | vayamoku | HC/Vqw3mp |
and sank down | and they melted away | 1 | |
H4355-02 |
וְֽ/הֻמְּכ֗וּ | vehumekhu | HC/VHq3cp |
and-they-are-brought-low | and they were dissolved | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4355-01 |
Psalms 106:43 | וַ֝/יָּמֹ֗כּוּ | vayamoku | HC/Vqw3mp |
and sank down | and they melted away | |
H4355-02 |
Job 24:24 | וְֽ/הֻמְּכ֗וּ | vehumekhu | HC/VHq3cp |
and-they-are-brought-low | and they were dissolved | |
H4355-03 |
Ecclesiastes 10:18 | יִמַּ֣ךְ | yimakhe | HVNi3ms |
decays | he will melt away |