מַעֲצֵבָה (ma.a.tse.vah)
ma.a.tse.vah
torment
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun maatselah denotes a specific location characterized by deep distress or anguish. Rather than describing an internal emotion alone, it points to a "place of pain" or a "place of grief." This concrete imagery suggests an environment where suffering is palpable and inescapable, turning abstract sorrow into a tangible reality.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Isaiah 50:11. The context involves a warning to those who walk in darkness without divine light. God addresses them as they kindle their own fires and step into the flames they have lit themselves, ultimately being consigned to this place of torment. The term captures the tragic result of rejecting guidance, where self-made solutions lead only to deeper anguish.
Its rarity underscores the severity of the warning. By using a word that implies a fixed location of grief, the text emphasizes that the consequences of spiritual blindness are not fleeting but constitute a settled state of misery. The imagery serves as a stark contrast to the light offered by God, highlighting the danger of relying on one's own limited resources.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word maatselah describes a profound state of anguish, often visualized as a place or condition of deep distress. In Isaiah 50:11, it stands in stark contrast to the light of God’s guidance. Those who choose their own paths, kindling fires of self-reliance, ultimately find themselves lying down in sorrow. This imagery reminds us that relying solely on our own understanding can lead to a heavy burden of regret.
For your faith, this offers a gentle invitation to seek divine light rather than walking in darkness. When we feel lost or overwhelmed by the consequences of our choices, remember that God’s way leads to peace. You are not condemned to remain in that place of grief; instead, you can turn toward the guidance that brings true comfort and rest.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ pain1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/מַעֲצֵבָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 50:11
Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves, walk in the flame of your fire, and among the torches that you have kindled. You will have this from my hand: you will lie down in sorrow.
This verse uses maatselah to describe the inevitable sorrow resulting from self-will and rejecting God's light.