מָעוֹג (ma.og)
ma.og
bun
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ma‘og refers to a baked cake or loaf, appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible. In these instances, it describes food prepared for immediate consumption, specifically as part of a meal offering or hospitality gesture.
Its two occurrences highlight its role in ritual and social context. In 1 Kings 19:6, an angel provides Elijah with a ma‘og alongside water to sustain him during his journey. Similarly, Psalm 78:28 mentions it among the provisions God supplied to Israel in the wilderness. The word underscores the tangible, physical nature of divine care and human sustenance.
Though rare, this term anchors abstract concepts of provision in concrete reality. It reminds readers that biblical faith often involves everyday acts like sharing bread or receiving nourishment. Translators typically render it as "cake" or "loaf," reflecting its simple yet essential function in ancient meals.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma‘og describes a simple baked cake or loaf, appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible. It points to food prepared for immediate eating, often as part of a meal offering or a gesture of hospitality. In these rare instances, it highlights how divine care meets physical needs through tangible means.
When Elijah received this bread from an angel, it sustained him during a difficult journey. Similarly, Psalm 78 mentions it among the provisions God supplied to Israel in the wilderness. These moments remind us that faith often involves everyday acts like sharing bread or receiving nourishment. The word anchors abstract concepts of provision in concrete reality.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- cake1×
- [is] food1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָע֔וֹג1×
- מָע֑וֹג1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 17:12
She said, “As Yahweh your God lives, I don’t have anything baked, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jar. Behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
This verse shows the word used by a widow describing her limited resources, highlighting the humble nature of the food she prepares for immediate consumption.
-
Psalms 35:16
Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.
In this context, the term appears alongside references to feasting and mocking, illustrating its role in social gatherings rather than ritual provision.