מָקַק (ma.qaq)
ma.qaq
to rot
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb maqaq describes a process of physical decay, such as flesh rotting or wounds festering. In its basic sense, it refers to organic matter breaking down, but Scripture often uses this image to describe the human body wasting away under the weight of sin or divine judgment.
This word appears in three key passages that highlight its theological weight. In Leviticus 26:16 and Deuteronomy 28:59, it describes how disobedience leads to physical deterioration. Isaiah 38:17 uses it metaphorically when Hezekiah reflects on his illness, noting that God preserved his life from the pit so he would not rot in the grave.
Translators typically render maqaq as "rot," "decay," or "pine away." The term carries a sense of helplessness and inevitable decline, contrasting sharply with the restoration and healing found elsewhere in biblical literature. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God, while also highlighting the mercy that prevents total destruction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word maqaq describes a slow, painful process of decay, where flesh wastes away or wounds refuse to heal. In the Old Testament, this image often appears alongside warnings about the consequences of turning away from God’s ways. It paints a stark picture of physical deterioration, reminding us that life without divine protection is fragile and temporary.
Yet even in these sobering descriptions, there is a quiet hope. When Isaiah 38:17 speaks of being saved from the pit so one does not rot, it highlights God’s power to preserve life against all odds. For believers today, this word underscores our dependence on Him. We are reminded that true wholeness comes not from our own strength, but from His sustaining grace.
While we may face seasons of weakness or illness, the Bible assures us that God sees our struggles. He does not leave us to fade away in despair. Instead, He offers restoration and peace, inviting us to trust in His care even when our bodies feel weak.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will rot away2×
- they will rot1×
- it will rot1×
- he will cause to rot1×
- and/ they will rot away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּמַּ֥ק1×
- תִּמַּ֣קְנָה1×
- יִמָּֽקּוּ\׃1×
- יִמַּ֙קּוּ֙1×
- וְ/נָמַ֙קּוּ֙1×
- הָמֵ֣ק\׀1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 26:39
Those of you who are left will pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers they shall pine away with them.
This verse shows how prolonged disobedience leads to a state of wasting away, linking spiritual separation with physical decline.
-
Isaiah 34:4
All of the army of the sky will be dissolved. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all its armies will fade away, as a leaf fades from off a vine or a fig tree.
Here the imagery expands to cosmic scales, showing that even heavenly hosts will fade like dying leaves, emphasizing total dissolution.
-
Zechariah 14:12
This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike all the peoples who have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth.
This vivid description of a plague where flesh consumes while standing illustrates the terrifying finality of divine judgment on enemies.