מַפָּלָה (map.pa.lah)
map.pa.lah
ruin
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mappalah denotes a state of ruin or destruction, specifically describing a city that has been laid waste. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, all within the book of Isaiah, where it serves as a stark image of judgment against powerful urban centers.
In Isaiah 17:1, the word describes the fate of Damascus, while Isaiah 23:13 applies it to Tyre. In both instances, the term highlights the total collapse of these once-great cities. The sources indicate that this form is closely related to mapeleh, with minor spelling variations reflecting the same core concept of devastation.
This word carries significant theological weight in Isaiah’s prophecies. It underscores the vulnerability of human power when opposed by divine will. By using such a direct term for ruin, the text emphasizes that no city, regardless of its strength or wealth, is immune to judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mappalah describes a state of total ruin, specifically depicting cities that have been laid waste. In Isaiah, it appears only three times, each time pointing to powerful urban centers like Damascus and Tyre. These were places of wealth and security, yet the text declares they would become heaps of rubble. This imagery reminds us that human strength is fragile when placed against divine will.
For your faith, this word offers a sobering perspective on where we place our trust. It is easy to rely on institutions, resources, or personal achievements as sources of safety. Yet scripture shows that even the most fortified cities can fall. This does not mean God delights in destruction, but rather that He holds all human power accountable.
When you feel anxious about the stability of your world, remember that earthly structures are temporary. True security is found not in walls or wealth, but in the one who remains constant through every change. Let this truth ground your heart in something deeper than the shifting sands of history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- into/ a ruin1×
- a ruin1×
- <into>/ a ruin1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַפָּלָֽה\׃1×
- לְ/מַפֵּלָֽה\׃1×
- לְ/מַפֵּלָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 17:1
The burden of Damascus. “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap.
This verse applies the word to Damascus, showing that even a major political capital can be reduced to a ruinous heap by divine judgment.
-
Isaiah 23:13
Behold, the land of the Chaldeans. This people didn’t exist. The Assyrians founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They overthrew its palaces. They made it a ruin.
Here the term describes Tyre, highlighting how Assyrian forces overthrew its palaces and turned a thriving trade hub into a desolate ruin.
-
Isaiah 25:2
For you have made a city into a heap, a fortified city into a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city. It will never be built.
This occurrence broadens the scope beyond specific enemies, stating that God Himself makes fortified cities into ruins to protect His people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word mappalah mean?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Why is this word significant in Isaiah?
How is mappalah different from other words for destruction?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Isaiah 3 verses
The burden of Damascus. “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap.
Isaiah 23:13Behold, the land of the Chaldeans. This people didn’t exist. The Assyrians founded it for those who dwell in the…
Isaiah 25:2For you have made a city into a heap, a fortified city into a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city. It will never…