מַכְמָר
𐤌𐤊𐤌𐤓
makmâr
H4364 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A net, particularly a device or apparatus for catching birds or fish. The term denotes a woven or knotted structure used in hunting or fishing, with a focus on entrapment or ensnaring. It may emphasize the function of concealment or entrapment more than the method of use.
Semantic Range
net for hunting, net for fishing, trap, device for snaring by concealment
Root / Etymology
The term derives from the root כּמר (k-m-r), which at its core conveys ideas related to becoming dark, scorched, or covered. In the noun form מַכְמָר (makmâr) or מִכְמֹר (mikmōr), the notion of 'covering' or 'concealment' gives rise to its designation for a net — specifically one used by hunters or fishers to entrap by being hidden or dark, blending with the surroundings.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מַכְמָר occurs rarely, always in contexts related to nets for trapping animals or fish. The related root כּמר in other Semitic languages also expresses the idea of covering, darkness, or heat. While English translations often render it simply as 'net,' the Hebrew term carries possible connotations of a net that is camouflaged or hidden to better ensnare prey. In contrast to more generic words for net such as רֶשֶׁת (reshet), מַכְמָר may suggest an emphasis on entrapment through concealment. There is no shift in usage between Israelite and later periods, as the word is attested only in relatively late biblical texts. Standard translations do not fully convey the nuance that this net is dark or concealed for effectiveness in hunting or fishing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מִכְמֹר; from כָּמַר in the sense of blackening by heat; a (hunter's) net (as dark from concealment); net.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כמר (k-m-r) — to be dark, to cover, to conceal, to blacken
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3648 | כָּמַר | they were kindled |
| H3649 | כָּמָר | the somber pagan priests |
| H3650 | כִּמְרִיר | intense darkenings of |
| H4365 | מִכְמֶרֶת | in his ensnaring-net |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4364-01 |
מִכְמָ֑ר | mikhemar | HNcmsa |
in a net | concealing net | 1 |
H4364-02 |
בְ/מַכְמֹרָ֣י/ו | vemakhemorayv | HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
into their nets | in his concealed snare-nets | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4364-01 |
Isaiah 51:20 | מִכְמָ֑ר | mikhemar | HNcmsa |
in a net | concealing net |
H4364-02 |
Psalms 141:10 | בְ/מַכְמֹרָ֣י/ו | vemakhemorayv | HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
into their nets | in his concealed snare-nets |