English · KJV
H4048

מָגַר

mâgar /maw-gar'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto yield up; intensively, to precipitate
KJV usagecast down, terror.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâgar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mâgar, represented by H4048, is a primitive root used to mean to yield up; intensively, to precipitate; cast down, terror. Though it appears only 3 times across 2 unique verses, its usage conveys powerful actions of judgment and the resulting emotional state. It describes both a physical overthrow and an intense, overwhelming fear.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4048 illustrates divine judgment in two distinct ways. In Psalms, it is used to describe the forcible removal of authority, where God has "cast his throne down to the ground" Psalms 89:44. This depicts a complete and humiliating downfall. In Ezekiel, the word shifts to describe the internal experience of this judgment, where "terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people" Ezekiel 21:12, signifying a state of profound dread and anguish.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the context of downfall and anguish associated with H4048:

  • H3678 kiççêʼ (a throne): This word for a seat of power is the direct object of the action in Psalms 89:44. The casting down of a throne symbolizes the total collapse of a king's or nation's authority under God's judgment.
  • H2199 zâʻaq (to shriek): This word appears in the command to "Cry and howl" in Ezekiel 21:12. It describes a shriek from anguish or danger, capturing the human response to the terrors H4048 brought by the sword.
  • H3213 yâlal (to howl): Used in conjunction with H2199, the command to "howl" Ezekiel 21:12 emphasizes a wailing tone of deep sorrow and despair, underscoring the severity of the impending doom.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4048 is concentrated in the theme of divine judgment.

  • Overthrow of Human Authority: The word is used to demonstrate God's ultimate sovereignty. By casting down a throne H3678, God actively deposes earthly power, asserting His own authority over all rulers Psalms 89:44.
  • The Terror of Retribution: The word's use as "terrors" reveals the psychological impact of divine discipline. This is not just fear, but a state of horror that grips the people of Israel as a consequence of their actions Ezekiel 21:12.
  • A Call to Anguish: The context in Ezekiel links the terrors of H4048 with commands to cry H2199 and howl H3213. This portrays anguish not just as a consequence, but as the appropriate response to the reality of God's coming judgment.

Summary

In summary, H4048 is a potent, though infrequently used, term in the Hebrew scriptures. It powerfully communicates the dual nature of divine judgment: the external act of overthrowing power and the internal experience of abject terror. It serves as a stark reminder of God's sovereignty and the severe consequences that follow when His authority is opposed.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מִגַּרְתָּה
  • מְגוּרֵי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3678 כִּסֵּא or כִּסֵּה; from כָּסָה; properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied); seat, stool, throne. H2199 זָעַק a primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly; assembl H3213 יָלַל a primitive root; to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one); (make to) howl, be howling.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Ezekiel (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Psalms
1
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.