מִרְזַח (mir.zach)
mir.zach
banquet
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mirzach refers to a loud, resonant sound, specifically a shout of joy or revelry. It describes the raucous noise made during feasts and celebrations, capturing the energetic clamor of a crowd in high spirits rather than quiet conversation.
Its sole occurrence in the Bible appears in Amos 6:5, where the prophet condemns those who imagine they can ignore divine warning while indulging in such festivities. The text contrasts this "cry of revelry" with the ability to discern serious matters, highlighting how the noise of celebration can drown out moral and spiritual awareness.
The word’s root suggests a piercing or sharp sound, which fits its use for both mourning cries and joyful shouts. In Amos, it serves as a stark symbol of misplaced confidence, where the loudness of the banquet masks a community’s failure to heed God’s call for justice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mirzach describes the loud, resonant noise of a banquet—a shout of joy or revelry that fills a room with energetic clamor. It is not the quiet murmur of conversation, but the piercing sound of a crowd in high spirits, celebrating together with abandon. This single occurrence in Scripture reminds us that celebration itself is not wrong, but its context matters deeply.
In Amos 6:5, this sound becomes a warning sign. The prophet condemns those who indulge in such raucous feasts while ignoring divine warnings and failing to care for the needy. The noise of the banquet masks a community’s failure to heed God’s call for justice. It shows how the excitement of worldly joy can sometimes drown out moral and spiritual awareness, leading people to feel safe when they are actually in danger.
For your faith, this word invites reflection on where you place your confidence. Are your celebrations rooted in gratitude and community, or do they serve as a distraction from deeper responsibilities? True joy does not silence the voice of conscience but aligns with it. May your gatherings always point toward hope and righteousness rather than mere noise.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] revelry of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִרְזַ֥ח1×
Key Verses
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Amos 6:7
Therefore they will now go captive with the first who go captive. The feasting and lounging will end.
This verse marks the end of the feasting described by mirzach, showing that such revelry cannot shield a people from coming judgment.