מַהְפֵּכָה (mah.pe.khah)
mah.pe.khah
overthrow
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun mahpekhah describes a sudden and total overturning, carrying the sense of catastrophic destruction. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears only five times, and its usage is remarkably specific. It is reserved exclusively for describing the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, marking these cities as the definitive example of divine judgment in the prophetic tradition.
Its presence in books like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Amos serves to remind readers of the severity of sin when it reaches a point of no return. The word does not merely suggest damage or loss; it implies a complete reversal of order, where a community is upended and erased. By limiting this powerful term to these two cities, the biblical writers emphasize that their destruction was unique in its totality.
This lexical precision highlights the gravity with which ancient Israel viewed moral corruption. The word stands as a stark warning, illustrating that certain actions lead not just to punishment, but to absolute ruin. Its consistent association with Sodom and Gomorrah ensures that any mention of mahpekhah instantly evokes the image of a city turned upside down by judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mahpekhah describes a sudden, total overturning. It is not used for ordinary damage or temporary loss. Instead, it marks a catastrophic reversal where order is completely erased. In the biblical text, this powerful noun appears only five times, and each time it points to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. This specific usage reminds us that moral corruption, when left unchecked, can lead to absolute ruin.
For your faith life, this word serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin. It is not meant to frighten you into fear, but to highlight the value of repentance and returning to God. The prophet Amos uses this image to show that while judgment is real, mercy is also available. Like a burning stick plucked from the fire, we can be spared if we turn back to Him.
Understanding mahpekhah helps us see why Scripture takes moral integrity seriously. It invites us to examine our own lives and communities, ensuring we do not become complacent in wrongdoing. The hope lies not in avoiding judgment through our own strength, but in responding to God’s call with humility and change.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like/ [the] overthrow of4×
- [is] like/ [the] overthrow of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּֽ/מַהְפֵּכַ֞ת1×
- כְּ/מַהְפֵּכַ֨ת1×
- כְּ/מַהְפֵּכַ֥ת1×
- כְּ/מַהְפֵּכַ֤ת1×
- כְּ/מַהְפֵּכַ֣ת1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 4:11
“I have overthrown some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a burning stick plucked out of the fire; yet you haven’t returned to me,” says Yahweh.
This verse uniquely pairs the word with a personal warning ('I have overthrown some of you'), showing that divine judgment is not just historical but applicable to those who refuse to return to God.
-
Isaiah 13:19
Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Here, the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a prophetic comparison for Babylon’s future destruction, emphasizing that no earthly power is immune to divine justice.
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Jeremiah 49:18
As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities,” says Yahweh, “no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein.
The prophet uses this term to predict the complete desolation of Edom, stressing that no one will remain to dwell in the ruins after such a total overturning.