מַמְּגֻרוֹת (mam.m.gu.rah)
mam.m.gu.rah
granary
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 mamgerot refers to a granary or storehouse, specifically a place designated for keeping harvested grain safe from spoilage and theft. In the Old Testament, this term appears only once, in Joel 1:17, where it describes the dry, empty pits that once held the season’s yield.
The context of Joel is one of national crisis, as a locust plague has destroyed the crops. The verse paints a stark image: the seeds lie shriveled under the clods of earth, and the granaries are torn open and desolate. This single usage highlights the word’s theological weight in this passage, symbolizing not just physical emptiness but the sudden withdrawal of God’s provision.
Translators typically render mamgerot as "storehouses" or "granaries," emphasizing its function as a secure container for sustenance. The destruction of these structures serves as a powerful metaphor for vulnerability, showing how quickly security can vanish when the earth fails to produce.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mamgerot points to a granary, a place built to keep harvest safe from spoilage and theft. In Joel 1:17, these structures stand torn open and empty, showing how quickly security can vanish when crops fail. This image reminds us that our physical stores are fragile and temporary.
Yet this emptiness does not mean God has abandoned His people. Instead, it invites us to look beyond what we can store in barns. True provision comes from the One who controls the rain and the soil. When our own resources run dry, we find rest in trusting that He will sustain us.
May you find peace knowing that your worth is not tied to your storage or success. Even in seasons of lack, God’s care remains steady. You are held by a love that does not wither like grain in the sun.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] granaries1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַמְּגֻר֑וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Joel 1:17
The seeds rot under their clods. The granaries are laid desolate. The barns are broken down, for the grain has withered.
This verse uses the word to depict total vulnerability, as the granaries are broken down and empty due to the locust plague.