מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב (ma.gor mis.sa.viv)
ma.gor mis.sa.viv
`Terror on Every Side`
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The phrase magor-missabib, meaning "terror on every side," appears in Jeremiah 20:3 as a symbolic name given to the priest Pashur. This was not merely a nickname but a prophetic judgment pronounced after Pashur punished the prophet for speaking against Jerusalem’s idolatry.
By assigning this title, Jeremiah declared that Pashur would experience the very chaos he tried to suppress. The Hebrew components combine magor ("terror" or "fear") with missabib ("around" or "surrounding"), creating an image of inescapable dread. This linguistic choice underscores the certainty of the coming disaster.
Though this compound name occurs only once in Scripture, its impact is lasting. It serves as a concrete example of how prophetic names functioned as enacted judgments. The text records that Pashur would soon face captivity and death, fulfilling the terrifying reality embedded in his new name.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The phrase "terror on every side" comes from a moment when the prophet Jeremiah gave a new name to a priest named Pashur. This was not just a label, but a serious warning about what would happen next. It reminds us that God sees all actions and that truth cannot be silenced by force or authority.
For your life, this word offers a sobering perspective on integrity. When we choose to speak the truth even when it is difficult, we align ourselves with God's justice. It encourages us to trust in His ultimate control, knowing that no matter how chaotic things seem around us, He remains sovereign and just.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ around1×
- Terror1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָג֥וֹר1×
- מִ/סָּבִֽיב\׃\ \פ1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 20:3
On the next day, Pashhur released Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “Yahweh has not called your name Pashhur, but Magormissabib.
This verse records the exact moment Jeremiah pronounces the name change, linking Pashur's past actions to his future experience of inescapable fear.