### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉdûwrâh**, represented by `{{H4071}}`, refers to a **pile** of fuel, specifically for a fire. Derived from a root word meaning accumulation, it appears **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, highlighting its specific application in contexts of judgment and divine action.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical appearances, `{{H4071}}` is used exclusively in prophetic contexts of divine judgment. In Ezekiel, the Lord GOD declares he will make the **pile** for fire great as a woe upon the bloody city [[Ezekiel 24:9]]. Similarly, Isaiah describes a massive **pile** of fire and wood in Tophet, prepared for a king and kindled by the very breath of the LORD [[Isaiah 30:33]]. Both instances depict a structure built for intense, divinely initiated fire.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of fiery judgment:
* `{{H784}}` **'êsh** (fire): This is the essential element for which the **pile** is made. It is used literally as a consuming force and figuratively, such as in the refining process [[Zechariah 13:9]] and to describe God's powerful word [[Jeremiah 23:29]].
* `{{H6086}}` **ʻêts** (wood): This word, meaning tree or wood, identifies the fuel that makes up the **pile** [[Isaiah 30:33]]. It is a common term used for everything from living trees to the timber used for construction or burning.
* `{{H1197}}` **bâʻar** (to kindle, i.e. consume): This verb describes the action taken upon the **pile**. In [[Isaiah 30:33]], it is the breath of the LORD that does "kindle" the fire. It is also used to describe God's word as a "burning" fire within the prophet [[Jeremiah 20:9]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4071}}` is centered on the execution of God's judgment.
* **An Instrument of Judgment:** `{{H4071}}` is consistently linked to divine retribution. It represents the prepared fuel for God's fiery judgment against a "bloody city" [[Ezekiel 24:9]] and in the place of judgment known as Tophet [[Isaiah 30:33]].
* **Sovereign Preparation:** The **pile** is not a random occurrence but is deliberately constructed. It is "prepared" by God for the king [[Isaiah 30:33]] and made "great" by the Lord GOD himself [[Ezekiel 24:9]], emphasizing that judgment is an intentional and ordered divine act.
* **The Power of God's Breath:** The ignition of the **pile** is attributed directly to God's power. In a vivid depiction, it is the "breath of the LORD" that kindles the fire, demonstrating that the execution of judgment is a supernatural event fueled by divine will [[Isaiah 30:33]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4071}}` **mᵉdûwrâh** carries a focused and potent meaning. Though appearing only twice, it functions as a powerful symbol of prepared judgment. It is not merely a stack of wood but a divinely constructed **pile** for a fire of retribution, established by God's sovereign will and ignited by His own power. The word serves as a stark illustration of the concrete and terrible means through which divine judgment is executed in scripture.
TRV