מָכַךְ (ma.khakh)
ma.khakh
to sink
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb machakh carries the sense of sinking or being brought low. In its basic form, it describes a state of humiliation or weakness, often applied to people who have been humbled by their circumstances or moral failure. The word appears in just three verses, primarily within the poetic books of Psalms, Job, and Ecclesiastes.
Its usage varies slightly across grammatical forms. In the Qal stem, it refers to being low or humiliated, as seen when describing perverse Israel. The Niphal form paints a vivid picture of physical decay, specifically used for house-timbers that sink or rot away. Meanwhile, the Hophal passive voice indicates being brought low, typically in reference to the wicked.
This rare word offers a concise linguistic snapshot of decline. Whether describing the spiritual lowliness of a nation or the literal collapse of wooden beams, machakh emphasizes a downward movement from strength to weakness. Its scarcity in Scripture highlights how specific Hebrew vocabulary could capture both moral and physical deterioration with equal precision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word machakh paints a picture of sinking, whether it is a person brought low by their choices or a wooden beam rotting away from neglect. It reminds us that strength does not last on its own. When we rely only on ourselves, we eventually find ourselves in a weak position, much like the timber that fails because no one tended to it.
Yet this word also points to God’s rescue. In Psalm 106, the people were brought low by their rebellion, but God intervened again and again. Their sinking did not have the final say. His mercy lifted them up when they could not lift themselves. This pattern shows that our failures do not define our end.
We can trust that God sees our weakness. He does not leave us in the dust. Instead, He offers grace that restores what has been broken. Whether you feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures or guilty for past mistakes, His hand is still able to raise you up. You are never beyond the reach of His restoring love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it sinks1×
- and/ they sank1×
- and/ they are brought low1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִמַּ֣ךְ1×
- וַ֝/יָּמֹ֗כּוּ1×
- וְֽ/הֻמְּכ֗וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 106:43
He rescued them many times, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity.
This verse highlights God's repeated rescue when people were brought low by their own iniquity, showing that divine mercy intervenes even after failure.
-
Ecclesiastes 10:18
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Here the word describes physical decay caused by slothfulness, illustrating how neglect leads to a gradual sinking of one's home and stability.
-
Job 24:24
They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone. Yes, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.
The wicked are exalted briefly before being brought low, demonstrating that worldly power is temporary and subject to God's judgment.