### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun H4003 (מְבוּקָה, *mᵉbûwqâh*) is derived from the root H950 (בּוּקָה, *bûqâh*), which signifies "emptying" or "laying waste." Its core meaning revolves around the concept of "emptiness," "void," or "desolation." This term conveys a profound sense of utter devastation, a state where something once full, ordered, or inhabited has been completely emptied out, leaving nothing but a vacant, desolate space. Unlike a mere absence, *mᵉbûwqâh* often implies an active process of destruction, often divine judgment, that brings about this state of void. It speaks to the aftermath of a destructive force, where all substance, life, or order has been removed, leaving behind a stark, barren emptiness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H4003 (מְבוּקָה, *mᵉbûwqâh*) appears in the Hebrew Bible in only two instances, both within prophetic condemnations, underscoring its specific and potent usage in depicting divine judgment and its consequences.
1. **[[Nahum 2:10]]**: "She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness."
* Here, mᵉbûwqâh is part of a powerful, alliterative triplet describing the utter destruction of Nineveh: "בּוּקָה וּמְבוּקָה וּמְבֻלָּקָה" (*bûqâh ûmᵉbûqâh ûmᵉbullâqâh*). The repetition and sound play emphasize the complete and irreversible desolation. The city, once mighty and bustling, is depicted as entirely emptied out, plundered, and devoid of inhabitants or resources. The subsequent description of the people's physical reactions—melting hearts, trembling knees, pain, and darkened faces—vividly portrays the terror and despair accompanying such a catastrophic void. The emptiness is not merely physical but psychological, reflecting the complete collapse of their world.
2. **[[Zephaniah 1:15]]**: "That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness."
* In Zephaniah's prophecy concerning the "Day of the Lord," mᵉbûwqâh appears alongside "שֹׁאָה" (*sho'ah*, `{{H7722}}`, "desolation" or "ruin") as part of a series of descriptors for this terrible day. The phrase "יוֹם שׁוֹאָה וּמְשׁוּאָה" (*yôm shô'âh ûmᵉshû'âh*) is often translated as "a day of wasteness and desolation." While some textual traditions and translations render the second word as `{{H4875}}` (מְשׁוּאָה, *mᵉshû'âh*), a close variant or scribal difference from H4003, the meaning remains consistent with profound emptiness and ruin. The context is one of universal judgment, where the land and its inhabitants are brought to nothing, stripped bare by divine wrath. The cumulative effect of the descriptors (wrath, trouble, distress, darkness, gloominess) paints a picture of a world undone, reduced to an empty, uninhabitable void.
In both instances, mᵉbûwqâh is used to articulate the extreme state of emptiness and desolation that results from divine judgment, signifying a complete stripping away of life, order, and substance.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of "emptiness" or "void" is powerfully expressed in various Hebrew terms, each with its own nuance. H4003 (מְבוּקָה, *mᵉbûwqâh*) resonates with several key words:
* **`{{H950}}` (בּוּקָה, *bûqâh*)**: The direct cognate, also meaning "emptiness" or "devastation." The repetition in [[Nahum 2:10]] ("בּוּקָה וּמְבוּקָה") underscores the intensity of the desolation.
* **`{{H8414}}` (תֹּהוּ, *tohu*)** and **`{{H922}}` (בֹּהוּ, *bohu*)**: These terms, famously appearing together in [[Genesis 1:2]] ("without form, and void"), describe an initial state of unformed chaos and emptiness before creation. While *mᵉbûwqâh* denotes an *outcome* of destruction, *tohu* and *bohu* represent an *initial* state of formlessness. However, *tohu* can also describe the desolation of a land after judgment (e.g., [[Isaiah 34:11]]). The connection lies in the shared concept of an uninhabitable, barren void.
* **`{{H7722}}` (שֹׁאָה, *sho'ah*)**: Often translated as "desolation," "ruin," or "destruction." As seen in [[Zephaniah 1:15]], mᵉbûwqâh and *sho'ah* are closely paired, indicating a similar semantic range related to utter devastation and the resulting emptiness. *Sho'ah* emphasizes the destructive event, while *mᵉbûwqâh* highlights the resulting state of void.
* **`{{H2723}}` (חָרְבָּה, *ḥorbah*)**: Meaning "desolation" or "ruin," often referring to the physical state of a ruined city or land (e.g., [[Jeremiah 25:9]]). While *ḥorbah* describes the physical remnants of ruin, *mᵉbûwqâh* emphasizes the complete emptiness within that ruin.
* **`{{H1238}}` (בָּקַק, *bâqaq*)**: The verbal root from which *bûqâh* and thus *mᵉbûwqâh* are derived, meaning "to empty," "to lay waste," or "to make void." This verb highlights the active process of emptying out, which culminates in the state described by *mᵉbûwqâh*.
These related terms collectively paint a comprehensive picture of desolation in the biblical narrative, ranging from the primordial chaos to the devastating effects of divine judgment. H4003 specifically emphasizes the profound and absolute emptiness that remains after such destructive processes.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H4003 (מְבוּקָה, *mᵉbûwqâh*) lies in its powerful portrayal of divine judgment and its ultimate consequences.
1. **Consequence of Sin and Rebellion:** The occurrences in Nahum and Zephaniah directly link this "emptiness" to the judgment brought upon nations (Nineveh) and a rebellious people (Judah) for their wickedness, idolatry, and injustice. The void is not random but a direct result of God's righteous wrath against sin. It signifies the removal of divine favor, protection, and blessing, leading to a state of utter vulnerability and ruin.
2. **Reversal of Creation:** The concept of "void" (particularly when considered alongside `{{H8414}}` *tohu* and `{{H922}}` *bohu*) harks back to the pre-creation state in [[Genesis 1:2]]. While God brought order and fullness out of primordial chaos, divine judgment can reverse this process, returning a once-flourishing land or city to a state of desolation and emptiness. This emphasizes God's sovereign power not only to create but also to uncreate or dismantle what has become corrupt.
3. **The Absence of God's Presence and Blessing:** For a land or city to be described as "empty" or "void" in the biblical context often implies the withdrawal of God's presence and the blessings that flow from it. Where God is, there is life, order, and fruitfulness. Where God withdraws in judgment, there is an absence of these, leading to barrenness and desolation. The "emptiness" thus becomes a stark reminder of the spiritual void created by separation from God.
4. **A Warning and Call to Repentance:** The prophetic pronouncements using mᵉbûwqâh serve as a severe warning. They illustrate the terrifying reality of God's justice and the inevitable outcome for those who persist in sin. By vividly depicting the emptiness and desolation, the prophets aim to stir fear and prompt repentance, urging people to turn back to the Lord before such judgment befalls them.
5. **Contrast with God's Redeeming Work:** The desolation of mᵉbûwqâh stands in stark contrast to God's redemptive promises of restoration and new creation. While judgment brings emptiness, God's ultimate plan is to fill, restore, and bring life where there was once death. This contrast highlights the severity of judgment while also implicitly pointing towards the hope of God's ultimate faithfulness to His covenant people.
In essence, mᵉbûwqâh is a theological marker of divine judgment, signifying the complete and devastating removal of what once was, leaving behind a stark and terrifying void as a consequence of human rebellion against a holy God.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H4003 (מְבוּקָה, *mᵉbûwqâh*) denotes a state of profound "emptiness" or "void," derived from a root signifying "to lay waste" or "to empty out." Appearing exclusively in prophetic contexts in [[Nahum 2:10]] and [[Zephaniah 1:15]], it powerfully describes the utter desolation and stripping away that results from divine judgment. This term highlights not just physical destruction but a complete absence of life, order, and substance, often accompanied by terror and despair. Semantically related to terms like `{{H8414}}` *tohu* (chaos/void) and `{{H7722}}` *sho'ah* (desolation), mᵉbûwqâh emphasizes the complete vacancy left in the wake of God's wrath. Theologically, it serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion, illustrating God's power to reverse creation and withdraw His blessing, leading to a terrifying void. It stands as a severe warning, urging repentance, and implicitly contrasting with God's ultimate plan of restoration and fullness.
TRV