מְגַמָּה (me.gam.mah)
me.gam.mah
horde
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun megammah appears only once in the Old Testament, in Habakkuk 1:9. Its exact meaning remains uncertain to scholars, leading to a range of possible translations. Most commonly, it is rendered as "hordes" or "host," describing the vast numbers of the Chaldean army advancing from distant lands.
Lexical sources also suggest meanings such as accumulation, assembling, or even eagerness. This ambiguity reflects the difficulty in pinning down a word that likely conveyed the overwhelming force and sheer quantity of the invading forces. The context emphasizes their predatory nature, moving swiftly to seize captives like wind.
Translators generally choose "hordes" to capture the sense of a massive, unstoppable group. This choice highlights the terror felt by the prophet, who witnesses a power that operates beyond normal human constraints. The word serves as a stark image of divine judgment arriving through a formidable military force.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word megammah appears only once in Scripture, in Habakkuk 1:9. It describes the vast hordes of the Chaldean army advancing with terrifying speed and purpose. For the prophet, this image represented an overwhelming force that seemed unstoppable, bringing fear and confusion to a world facing judgment.
When we encounter such powerful imagery, it is easy to feel small or anxious about the chaos in our own lives. Yet this passage reminds us that even the most formidable forces are under God’s sovereign control. He uses these events to refine His people, calling them to trust Him when circumstances seem beyond human understanding.
This single word invites us to look beyond the immediate threat and see the larger spiritual reality. It challenges us to rest in God’s justice and timing, knowing that no horde can thwart His purposes. In times of uncertainty, we are invited to find peace in the One who holds all history in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] totality of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְגַמַּ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Habakkuk 1:9
All of them come for violence. Their hordes face forward. They gather prisoners like sand.
This verse uses megammah to depict the Chaldean army's relentless advance, emphasizing their overwhelming numbers and predatory nature as they gather captives.