מָחַק (ma.chaq)
ma.chaq
to destroy
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb machaq means to wipe out or annihilate completely. It appears only once in the Bible, in Judges 5:26, as part of Deborah’s song celebrating the defeat of Canaanite forces. In this context, it describes Sisera being crushed and destroyed by Jael, emphasizing total defeat rather than a mere military setback.
The word carries a sense of finality and erasure, akin to rubbing out a mark so that nothing remains. This usage highlights the decisive nature of divine judgment in the narrative, where the enemy’s power is not just broken but entirely removed from existence.
Translators typically render machaq as "destroyed" or "crushed," capturing the intensity of the action. Its singular occurrence underscores the unique gravity of this event in Israel’s history, marking a pivotal moment where oppression was ended through decisive intervention.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word machaq appears only once in Scripture, found in Deborah’s song of victory in Judges 5:26. It describes the total defeat of the enemy commander Sisera. The imagery is stark and final, using a verb that means to wipe out or erase completely. This single occurrence highlights how God can remove oppression entirely, leaving no trace of the threat behind.
For believers today, this rare word offers a reminder of God’s power to bring decisive resolution to situations that seem overwhelming. It assures us that evil and injustice do not have the final word. When you face circumstances that feel entrenched or impossible, you can trust in a God who is able to clear away what stands against His people.
This passage invites us to rest in the certainty of divine justice. History shows that those who oppose truth and peace are ultimately removed from power. We look forward to a time when all wrongs will be fully corrected, and God’s people will dwell in lasting security.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- she shattered1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָחֲקָ֣ה1×
Key Verses
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Judges 5:26
She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.
This is the only biblical occurrence of machaq, where it describes the complete erasure of Sisera's power through Jael's decisive action.