### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉginnâh**, represented by `{{H4044}}`, translates as **sorrow**. Its base definition denotes a covering in a bad sense, implying blindness or obduracy. This specific term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible, which underscores its precise and severe meaning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The singular appearance of `{{H4044}}` is in [[Lamentations 3:65]], in the midst of a plea for judgment: "Give them **sorrow** of heart, thy curse unto them." In this passage, **mᵉginnâh** is not presented as a common or natural sadness but as an affliction to be actively imposed by God. The context frames this "sorrow" as a key component of a curse, directly linking it to a state of divinely sanctioned retribution.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its single biblical context clarify the meaning of `{{H4044}}`:
* `{{H5414}}` **nâthan** (to give): This verb, meaning **to give**, is used to request that the **sorrow** be inflicted. This shows that `{{H4044}}` describes a condition that is bestowed or put upon someone, not one that arises naturally [[Lamentations 3:65]].
* `{{H3820}}` **lêb** (the heart): This term specifies that the affliction is a "sorrow of **heart**." It pinpoints the affliction as an internal state affecting the feelings and will, rather than merely an external hardship.
* `{{H8381}}` **taʼălâh** (curse): Defined as an **imprecation; curse**, this word appears in direct parallel to `{{H4044}}` in the same verse, reinforcing the idea that this **sorrow** is a manifestation of a curse [[Lamentations 3:65]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4044}}` is focused and intense. It reveals a specific understanding of divine judgment and its effects.
* **Judgment as an Internal State:** The word illustrates that divine judgment can manifest as an internal condition of **sorrow** or obduracy, a "covering" placed upon the **heart** `{{H3820}}`.
* **Element of a Curse:** Its direct association with **taʼălâh** `{{H8381}}` frames this sorrow not as a trial for sanctification but as a punitive measure.
* **A "Given" Condition:** The verb **nâthan** `{{H5414}}` emphasizes that this is an actively imposed state. It is a sorrow that comes directly from God as an act of retribution.
### Summary
In summary, **mᵉginnâh** `{{H4044}}` is a uniquely specific biblical term. While translated as **sorrow**, it carries the much heavier connotation of an obstinacy or blindness of heart. Its sole appearance in [[Lamentations 3:65]] defines it as an element of a curse, a condition actively "given" by God as a form of judgment that afflicts the very core of a person's being.
TRV