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מֵפִיץ (me.phits)

me.phits

war-club

H4650 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 1 verses

H:N-M

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
1 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:N-M

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun mephits refers to a war-club designed specifically for scattering or dispersing enemies. Its core meaning is not just blunt force, but the chaotic effect that follows impact. This specialized weapon suggests a combatant who aims to break enemy formations rather than duel individuals.

With only one occurrence in the Bible, Proverbs 30:4 uses it as a vivid metaphor for divine power. The rhetorical question asks who has gathered the wind in their fists or bound the waters in a garment, implying that this scattering club is an instrument of God’s sovereign control over creation and history.

The word’s root relates to scattering or spreading out. This etymology reinforces its function as a tool of disruption. By using such a specific military image, the text emphasizes the overwhelming and disorienting nature of divine action.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word mephits describes a specialized war-club built to scatter enemies rather than simply strike them down. It appears only once in Scripture, in Proverbs 30:4, where it illustrates God’s absolute power over creation. This image reminds us that the Creator holds forces like wind and water with sovereign control, breaking apart chaos with ease.

When we face situations that feel overwhelming or disordered, this verse offers a quiet comfort. The same power that disperses armies also sustains the natural world. We can trust that no force is beyond His reach, even when our own understanding feels limited by the complexity of life around us.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • a war-club1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • מֵפִ֣יץ1×

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word mephits mean?

It refers to a war-club designed specifically to scatter or disperse enemies. The term emphasizes the chaotic effect of impact rather than just blunt force, suggesting a weapon used to break enemy formations.

Where does this word appear in the Bible?

It occurs only once, in Proverbs 30:4. The text uses it metaphorically to describe God's power over creation, asking who has gathered the wind or bound the waters.

How is mephits different from other words for weapons?

Unlike general terms for swords or spears, this word highlights a specific function: scattering. It points to disruption and the breaking apart of organized groups, reflecting God's sovereign control over chaos.

Every Occurrence (1 verses across 1 books)