Word Study for H4132 (מוֹט) | Strong's Concordance

môwṭ /mote/ Ask about this word

Meaninga wavering, i.e. fall; by implication, a pole (as shaking); hence, a yoke (as essentially a bent pole)

KJV usagebar, be moved, staff, yoke.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of môwṭ — 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 môwṭ, represented by H4132, conveys the idea of a wavering, fall, or shaking. It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses. Its definition extends from this core concept of instability to describe physical objects that can shake or are used for carrying, such as a pole, staff, bar, or yoke.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H4132 carries several distinct meanings. Figuratively, it speaks of personal stability, where God's protection ensures one's foot will not be moved Psalms 121:3 and that He holds the soul in life, not allowing the feet to be moved Psalms 66:9. It is also used literally as a bar or staff for carrying objects, such as the instruments of the sanctuary (Numbers 4:10, Numbers 4:12) or the large cluster of grapes from the brook of Eshcol Numbers 13:23. Finally, it symbolizes oppression in the form of a yoke that God promises to break from his people Nahum 1:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H4132 is found:

H7272 regel (a foot): This word is directly linked to the concept of stability. In the Psalms, the promise that one's foot will not be moved H4132 is a powerful metaphor for God's steadfast keeping power (Psalms 121:3, Psalms 66:9).
H5423 nâthaq (to tear off; break (off), burst): This term is used to describe the action of deliverance. God declares in Nahum that He will burst the bonds of His people, a promise made in direct parallel to breaking the yoke H4132 of their oppressors Nahum 1:13.
H3627 kᵉlîy (instrument, utensil, vessel): This word refers to the sacred instruments of ministry from the sanctuary, which were carefully covered and placed on a bar H4132 for transport, underscoring the care required for holy things Numbers 4:12.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4132 is seen in its dual application to divine faithfulness and human liberation.

Divine Stability: The word is used negatively—to describe what God prevents from happening. The assurance that He will not suffer the righteous to be moved highlights God's role as a sustainer who provides unwavering support and prevents his people from stumbling (Psalms 121:3, Psalms 66:9).
Deliverance from Bondage: As a yoke, H4132 represents servitude and affliction. God's promise to break this yoke is a powerful declaration of his role as a deliverer who shatters the instruments of oppression and frees his people Nahum 1:13.
Bearing Sacred Burdens: The use of H4132 as a bar or staff for carrying holy items, like the tabernacle vessels, signifies the responsibility of bearing what is set apart for God. It is a tool for transporting both the articles of worship and the evidence of God's blessing (Numbers 4:10, Numbers 13:23).

Summary

In summary, H4132 is a versatile word that encompasses both the physical and the metaphorical. From a simple staff used to carry fruit to the profound symbol of a yoke of oppression, it consistently relates to concepts of bearing weight and stability. Theologically, it serves to contrast the danger of human wavering with the security found in God, who keeps his people from being moved and breaks the yokes that bind them.

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 noun and a verb across 7 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

מּוֹט
מוֹט
מֹטֵ

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 6 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Numbers (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

Numbers

Psalms

Nahum

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.