The Hebrew word mûwr, represented by H4171, is a primitive root meaning to alter. By implication, it can mean to barter, to dispose of, or to change. It appears 14 times across 10 unique verses, often carrying a sense of significant, consequential substitution or exchange.
In the biblical narrative, H4171 is used in several distinct contexts. In legal matters, it describes the forbidden act of exchanging an animal designated for the LORD, as outlined in the law: "He shall not... change it" Leviticus 27:33. The word is also used to illustrate the steadfastness of the righteous, who swears to his own hurt "and changeth not" Psalms 15:4. Prophetically, it describes the apostasy of Israel, who "changed their glory" for worthless idols (Jeremiah 2:11, Psalms 106:20) and, as a consequence, God warns He will "change their glory into shame" Hosea 4:7. It can also convey a dramatic, physical alteration, as in the statement of faith, "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed" Psalms 46:2.
Several related words expand upon the concept of changing or altering states and conditions:
- H2498 châlaph (to alter, change, renew): This word is used alongside H4171 in Leviticus 27:10, forbidding one to "alter it, nor change it." It can also carry the sense of renewal, as in renewing strength Isaiah 40:31, or a simple change of garments Genesis 35:2.
- H3235 yâmar (to exchange): This term appears in parallel with H4171 in Jeremiah 2:11, where God asks if a nation has "changed their gods," immediately before stating His people "have changed their glory."
- H4185 mûwsh (to withdraw, remove, depart): This word is used in conjunction with H4171 to describe the dispossession of land, where God has "changed the portion" of His people and "removed it" from them Micah 2:4. It often signifies a departure or cessation, as when the book of the law shall not "depart" from the mouth Joshua 1:8.
- H5674 ʻâbar (to cross over, pass, alienate): In Ezekiel 48:14, this word is used with H4171 in a command not to "exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land," linking the idea of exchange to the permanent transfer of property.
The theological weight of H4171 is significant, particularly in contexts of worship and covenant.
- Covenantal Apostasy: The most potent use of H4171 is to describe Israel's faithlessness. By exchanging God for an idol, they "changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass" Psalms 106:20. This act of substitution is presented as a profound betrayal.
- Divine Judgment: As a direct response to sin, God employs change as judgment. In Hosea 4:7, He declares, "therefore will I change their glory into shame." Similarly, the changing of the people's portion is an act of divine discipline Micah 2:4.
- Sanctity and Permanence: The word underscores the gravity of altering what is holy. In Leviticus, if a consecrated animal is changed, "both it and the change thereof shall be holy" Leviticus 27:33. This shows that an unauthorized exchange in a sacred context has irreversible spiritual consequences.
In summary, H4171 is more than a simple word for alteration. It conveys the weighty act of exchange or substitution. It is used in legal codes to forbid the unlawful swapping of holy things, in wisdom literature to praise unwavering character, and in the prophets to condemn the tragic exchange of the true God for false idols. The word illustrates how a change, whether of an oath, a possession, or allegiance, carries significant and often permanent consequences.
TRV