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מָקַק

𐤌𐤒𐤒

mâqaq

H4743 verb

SILEX Entry

Root מקק to rot, decay, dissolve, waste away

Definition

To dissolve, disintegrate, decay, or waste away, usually referring to a physical or metaphorical process of decomposition or dissolution. The verb is used for materials (such as flesh or garments) melting, decaying, or becoming corrupt, as well as for persons or entities dwindling in strength, health, or status. It conveys gradual or complete physical disintegration, and, metaphorically, the fading of vitality or moral integrity.

Semantic Range

to rot, to decay, to waste away, to dissolve, to dwindle, to pine away, to become corrupt, to experience gradual disintegration, to vanish

Root / Etymology

From the root מ-ק-ק (מקק), which in its core sense means 'to decay' or 'to dissolve.' The word derives from the idea of breaking down cohesion, often by a process akin to melting or rotting. The verb form reflects the physical or metaphorical action of losing structure, integrity, or vitality.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מָקַק occurs both in contexts of physical decomposition (as in the wasting of flesh through disease: Job 13:28; Psalm 6:2) and in figurative senses, such as the fading of strength or the corruption of garments or entities (Leviticus 26:39; Isaiah 34:4). The usage is almost always negative, implying a process of irrevocable loss or ruin. The verb shares semantic space with other roots for decay or destruction (such as חָבַל, שָׁחַת), but מָקַק emphasizes the process and experience of gradual breakdown rather than abrupt destruction. English translations often use terms like 'consume away,' 'pine away,' or 'corrupt,' but may not fully capture the word's emphasis on the totality and inexorability of the decay. After the exile, the concept associated with מָקַק appeared primarily in poetic and prophetic contexts rather than straightforward description of disease or physical decay.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

' a primitive root; to melt; figuratively, to flow, dwindle, vanish; consume away, be corrupt, dissolve, pine away.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מקק (m-q-q) — to rot, decay, dissolve, waste away

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4716 מַק rottenness

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4743-07 וְ/נָמַ֨קּוּ֙ venamaqu HC/VNq3cp and they will melt away and they will waste away 2
H4743-08 יִמַּ֨קּוּ֙ yimaqu HVNi3mp shall pine away they will waste away 2
H4743-01 הָמֵ֣ק hameq HVha will rot to cause to decay 1
H4743-06 וּ/נְמַקֹּתֶם֙ unemaqotem HC/VNq2mp and you shall waste away you will waste away 1
H4743-05 תִּמַּ֣קְנָה timaqenah HVNi3fp will rot they will waste away 1
H4743-02 נָ֭מַקּוּ namaqu HVNp3cp they have flowed they have wasted away 1
H4743-03 נְמַקִּ֖ים nemaqim HVNsmpa are wasting away the decaying ones 1
H4743-04 תִּמַּ֥ק timaq HVNi3fs will rot she will waste away 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4743-08 Leviticus 26:39 יִמַּ֨קּוּ֙ yimaqu HVNi3mp shall pine away they will waste away
H4743-08 Leviticus 26:39 יִמָּֽקּוּ yimaqu-2 HVNi3mp they shall pine away they will waste away
H4743-07 Isaiah 34:4 וְ/נָמַ֨קּוּ֙ venamaqu HC/VNq3cp and they will melt away and they will waste away
H4743-07 Ezekiel 4:17 וְ/נָמַ֖קּוּ venamaqu HC/VNq3cp and they will waste away and they will waste away
H4743-06 Ezekiel 24:23 וּ/נְמַקֹּתֶם֙ unemaqotem HC/VNq2mp and you shall waste away you will waste away
H4743-03 Ezekiel 33:10 נְמַקִּ֖ים nemaqim HVNsmpa are wasting away the decaying ones
H4743-01 Zechariah 14:12 הָמֵ֣ק hameq HVha will rot to cause to decay
H4743-05 Zechariah 14:12 תִּמַּ֣קְנָה timaqenah HVNi3fp will rot they will waste away
H4743-04 Zechariah 14:12 תִּמַּ֥ק timaq HVNi3fs will rot she will waste away
H4743-02 Psalms 38:6 נָ֭מַקּוּ namaqu HVNp3cp they have flowed they have wasted away
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