מֹ֫רֶךְ (mo.rekh)
mo.rekh
weakness
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 morekh appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Leviticus 26:36. In this context, it translates to weakness or faintness. The verse describes a state of distress for those who have turned away from God, where even the sound of a driven wind causes them to flee as if pursued by a sword.
This rare word captures a physical and spiritual exhaustion that goes beyond simple tiredness. It suggests a trembling vulnerability, where the body’s strength fails so completely that ordinary sounds trigger panic. The scarcity of its usage highlights the severity of the condition it describes—a total depletion of resilience in the face of threat.
Because it is unique to this passage, morekh serves as a specific marker for the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. It illustrates how spiritual distance can lead to a fragile existence, where peace is impossible and fear dominates daily life. The word stands as a stark description of the human condition when separated from divine protection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word morekh appears only once in Scripture, describing a profound faintness or weakness that settles upon people far from God’s presence. In Leviticus 26:36, it paints a picture of spiritual exhaustion so deep that even the rustle of a leaf causes panic. This is not merely physical tiredness; it is a trembling vulnerability where resilience has completely faded.
For those seeking peace, this word offers a sobering reminder of what life looks like without divine protection. It illustrates how distance from God can lead to a fragile existence dominated by fear rather than rest. Recognizing this state helps us understand the depth of our need for His sustaining power and the comfort found in returning to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- despair1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֹ֙רֶךְ֙1×
Key Verses
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Leviticus 26:36
“‘As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf will put them to flight; and they shall flee, as one flees from the sword. They will fall when no one pursues.
This verse uniquely uses morekh to describe a faintness in the heart that causes believers to flee at the sound of a driven leaf, highlighting the severity of spiritual exhaustion.