מְבוּכָה (me.vu.khah)
me.vu.khah
confusion
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mevuqah describes a state of deep confusion or perplexity. It refers to the disorientation that occurs when order collapses and people no longer know which way to turn. The word captures the mental and social chaos that follows divine judgment, where normal structures of society break down.
It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in prophetic warnings. In Micah 2:3, God declares that a day of calamity will bring mevuqah upon Israel, signaling that their plans and security will be utterly overturned. Similarly, Isaiah 21:5 uses the term to describe the terror and confusion felt by those facing an impending enemy attack.
The root conveys being entangled or mixed up, suggesting a loss of clarity rather than simple ignorance. Translators typically render it as "confusion" or "perplexity," emphasizing the helplessness of those caught in the turmoil. The word serves as a stark reminder that when God judges, human understanding and stability are stripped away.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels like it is falling apart, the Bible does not hide the reality of chaos. The Hebrew word mevuqah describes a deep disorientation where plans collapse and clarity vanishes. It captures the panic of standing in a valley of vision when walls break down and there is no clear path forward.
This term appears in prophetic warnings to show that human order can fail. Yet even in this state of perplexity, God remains sovereign over history. The text reminds us that while confusion may surround us, the Lord of Armies holds the situation. We are invited to trust His presence when our own understanding runs out.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- confusion/ their1×
- and/ confusion1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְבוּכָתָֽ/ם\׃1×
- וּ/מְבוּכָ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 22:5
For it is a day of confusion, and of treading down, and of perplexity from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, in the valley of vision, a breaking down of the walls, and a crying to the mountains.”
The word describes a specific day of calamity where divine judgment brings immediate social and military collapse.
-
Micah 7:4
The best of them is like a brier. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, even your visitation, has come; now is the time of their confusion.
It marks the moment when societal leaders fail, leaving the community in a state of helpless watchfulness.