מַפְרֶקֶת (miph.re.qet)
miph.re.qet
neck
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun miphreqet refers specifically to the neck, defined in ancient Hebrew thought as the part of the body that divides the head from the rest of the torso. It is a rare word in the Old Testament, appearing only once in the canonical text. This singular occurrence places it in a moment of high drama and sudden shock.
In 1 Samuel 4:18, the word describes the neck of Eli, the aging priest, as he hears the news that the Ark of God has been captured. The text notes that his head fell backward and his neck broke, leading to his death. Here, miphreqet is not just an anatomical term but the focal point of a physical collapse under the weight of catastrophic news.
Its rarity highlights how specific biblical language can be when describing precise physical events. While other words for "neck" exist in Hebrew, this term marks the exact structural failure that ends Eli’s life, anchoring the narrative moment in visceral, bodily reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word miphreqet appears only once in the Old Testament, describing the neck of Eli in a moment of sudden shock. When he heard that the Ark of God had been captured, his head fell backward and his neck broke. This rare term anchors the story in physical reality, showing how heavy burdens can weigh on even the strongest among us.
Eli was an old man who had judged Israel for forty years. His death came not from battle, but from the weight of news he could not bear alone. For you, this reminds us that we do not carry every burden by ourselves. God sees your fatigue and knows when a load is too heavy to hold.
In times of great stress or grief, it is okay to feel overwhelmed. You are not expected to be strong all the time. Bring your fears to God, who holds you gently when you cannot stand on your own.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- neck/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַפְרַקְתּ/וֹ֙1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 4:18
When he made mention of God’s ark, Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
This verse uses miphreqet to describe the physical collapse of Eli under the weight of catastrophic news, marking the end of his life and leadership.