מָהַל

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mâhal, represented by H4107, is a primitive root that properly means to cut down or reduce. By implication, it means to adulterate or be mixed. This word is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, yet it carries significant metaphorical weight.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single use of H4107 is found in a prophetic critique in the book of Isaiah. It is used to create a powerful image of corruption and degradation: "Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water" Isaiah 1:22. Here, the word describes the act of diluting wine, a valuable commodity, with water, thereby reducing its quality and worth. This physical act of adulteration serves as a metaphor for the spiritual and moral decay of the people, whose purity and value have been compromised.

Related Words & Concepts

The meaning of H4107 is illuminated by the words used alongside it in its only biblical context:

• H3701 keçeph (silver; by implication, money): Represents something precious and pure that has been corrupted into something worthless. The dossier notes it is refined with fire Zechariah 13:9.
• H5509 çîyg (dross): This is what the pure silver has become, an image of worthless refuse. This term is consistently associated with impurity that must be purged away (Isaiah 1:25, Proverbs 25:4).
• H5435 çôbeʼ (wine): This refers to the wine that has been adulterated. It symbolizes richness and vitality that has been diluted and weakened.
• H4325 mayim (water): The substance used to dilute the wine, representing the common or worthless element introduced to corrupt what was once pure.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4107 is centered on its use as a metaphor for spiritual compromise.

• Symbol of Corruption: The act of being "mixed" serves as a direct symbol of moral and spiritual adulteration. It signifies a loss of integrity and a departure from a pure state.
• Devaluation of the Covenant: In Isaiah, the wine being mixed with water illustrates how Israel's relationship with God, once precious, has been devalued by faithlessness and sin. What should have been pure has been tainted.
• An Indictment Leading to Judgment: The state of being "mixed" or adulterated is presented as evidence in a divine indictment. The parallel imagery of silver becoming dross H5509 connects this idea to a process of judgment and forceful purification, as God promises to "purge away thy dross" Isaiah 1:25.

Summary

In summary, though H4107 appears only once, its meaning is profound. It is not just about a simple action of mixing liquids; it is a powerful biblical symbol for adulteration, corruption, and the loss of spiritual purity. Its context in Isaiah 1:22 uses the imagery of diluted wine to diagnose a nation's moral decay, illustrating how compromising with worthless things ruins what is precious.