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מַפֶּלֶת

𐤌𐤐𐤋𐤕

mappeleth

H4658 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נפל to fall, collapse, be cast down

Definition

A falling or downfall, often referring to collapse, destruction, or ruin, especially in the context of structures, peoples, or events. In some contexts, may denote a figurative or literal collapse (e.g., the fall of a wall or city), or the destructive consequence following an action. Rarely, it can refer to something that has fallen, such as a corpse.

Semantic Range

downfall, collapse, calamity, ruin, ruinous event, destruction; rarely, a thing (such as a corpse) that has fallen

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root נפל (n-p-l), meaning 'to fall, collapse, be cast down'. מַפֶּלֶת (mappeleth) is a feminine noun form denoting the act or result of falling, i.e., a downfall or ruin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מַפֶּלֶת is most frequently found in narrative or prophetic contexts describing literal destruction or societal collapse, such as the falling of a wall (Isaiah 30:13) or the defeat of peoples. The word is derived directly from the root נפל, which encompasses both voluntary and involuntary falls, but מַפֶּלֶת is more narrowly used for significant, often disastrous, collapses or downfalls. Standard English translations render it with terms such as 'ruin', 'collapse', or 'downfall', sometimes 'carcase', but the latter sense is rare and depends on the contextual connotation of something having fallen and therefore being lifeless. It does not have the technical meaning of 'corpse' as does the more standard term נְבֵלָה (nevelah). The semantic range did not shift significantly between early and later biblical periods, remaining focused on calamity or substantial physical or societal loss. The usage is distinct from general terms for death and instead connotes an event or process of ruin.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָפַל; fall, i.e. decadence; concretely, a ruin; specifically a carcase; carcase, fall, ruin.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נפל (n-p-l) — to fall, collapse, be cast down

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4651 מַפָּל fallen-off fragments of
H4654 מַפָּלָה to a collapse
H5303 נְפִיל the fallen-giants
H5307 נָפַל I will cause to fall
H5308 נְפַל falling ones

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4658-03 מַפַּלְתֵּ֗/ךְ mapaletekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs of your fall your downfall 3
H4658-04 מַפַּלְתּ֥/וֹ mapaleto HNcfsc/Sp3ms its fall his downfall 2
H4658-05 מַפֶּ֣לֶת mapelet HNcfsc the carcass downfall of 1
H4658-01 בְּֽ/מַפַּלְתָּ֥/ם bemapaletam HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp their downfall in their downfall 1
H4658-02 מַפַּלְתֶּֽ/ךָ mapaletekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms of your fall your downfall 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4658-05 Judges 14:8 מַפֶּ֣לֶת mapelet HNcfsc the carcass downfall of
H4658-03 Ezekiel 26:15 מַפַּלְתֵּ֗/ךְ mapaletekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs of your fall your downfall
H4658-03 Ezekiel 26:18 מַפַּלְתֵּ֑/ךְ mapaletekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs of your fall your downfall
H4658-03 Ezekiel 27:27 מַפַּלְתֵּֽ/ךְ mapaletekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your downfall your downfall
H4658-04 Ezekiel 31:13 מַפַּלְתּ֥/וֹ mapaleto HNcfsc/Sp3ms its fallen trunk his downfall
H4658-04 Ezekiel 31:16 מַפַּלְתּ/וֹ֙ mapaleto HNcfsc/Sp3ms its fall his downfall
H4658-02 Ezekiel 32:10 מַפַּלְתֶּֽ/ךָ mapaletekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms of your fall your downfall
H4658-01 Proverbs 29:16 בְּֽ/מַפַּלְתָּ֥/ם bemapaletam HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp their downfall in their downfall
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