מֵץ (muts)
muts
extortioner
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mêts describes a person who acts as an oppressor or extortioner. Its core meaning derives from the physical act of squeezing something dry, like grapes in a winepress or olives for oil. In this context, the word paints a vivid picture of someone who applies crushing pressure to extract every last drop of value from another person.
This term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 16:4. The prophet uses it to describe the fate of Moab, pleading that refugees find shelter from the "squeezer" or oppressor. The imagery is stark: just as a press destroys the fruit to get its juice, this figure destroys people to gain wealth or power.
While most English translations render mêts simply as "oppressor," the literal sense of squeezing adds a layer of brutality to the text. It suggests not just ruling over someone, but actively grinding them down for personal gain. The word highlights the violent intimacy of exploitation, where the victim is treated merely as raw material to be drained.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mêts paints a vivid picture of someone who squeezes another person dry, much like grapes in a winepress. It describes an extortioner who applies crushing pressure to extract every last drop of value from others. This imagery highlights the brutal intimacy of exploitation, where victims are treated as raw material to be drained for personal gain.
In Isaiah 16:4, the prophet pleads for shelter for refugees from this destroyer. The verse offers a powerful promise that such oppression will not last forever. It reminds us that justice is real and that those who seek to crush others will eventually face consequences.
For your faith, this word serves as a stark reminder of God’s concern for the vulnerable. It encourages you to trust in His ultimate justice when faced with unfair treatment. You can find comfort knowing that God sees the suffering of the oppressed and promises to restore what was stolen.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ oppressor1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מֵּץ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 16:4
Let my outcasts dwell with you! As for Moab, be a hiding place for him from the face of the destroyer. For the extortionist is brought to nothing. Destruction ceases. The oppressors are consumed out of the land.
This verse uniquely uses mêts to describe the 'destroyer' from whom refugees need shelter, emphasizing God's role as a hiding place against crushing exploitation.