English · KJV
H4192

מוּת

Mûwth /mooth/ Ask about this word
(Psalm אֲבִירָם or מוּת לַבֵּן; from מוּת and בֵּן with the preposition and article interposed; 'To die for the son', probably the title of a popular song; death, Muthlabben.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Mûwth — 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 Mûwth, represented by H4192, is a complex term that appears just 2 times in 2 unique verses. Its definition suggests it may be derived from a phrase meaning 'To die for the son' and used as the title of a popular song, "Muthlabben." In its other usage, it simply means death.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two appearances of H4192 showcase its distinct applications. In Psalms 9:1, it is used as "Muthlabben" in the superscription, likely as a musical or literary direction for the "chief Musician." The psalm itself is a song of praise to the LORD for His "marvellous works." In contrast, Psalms 48:14 uses the word to mean death directly, proclaiming that God will be a guide for his people "even unto death," signifying his faithfulness to the very end of life.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H4192 appears:

  • H1121 bên (son): This word, meaning a son as a builder of the family name, is part of the proposed etymology for "Muthlabben." It is used throughout scripture to establish lineage and relationship Psalms 31:19.
  • H5329 nâtsach (chief musician): This term, meaning a superintendent of Temple music, appears in the title of Psalms 9:1, linking H4192 to the formal practice of worship and song Psalms 19:1.
  • H5090 nâhag (guide): This word for leading or guiding is used in direct connection with H4192 to describe God's role. He is the one who will guide his people even unto death Psalms 48:14.

Theological Significance

Despite its rarity, H4192 carries significant meaning in its contexts.

  • A Call to Worship: As "Muthlabben" in Psalms 9:1, it functions as part of a formal psalm of David. This psalm is a declaration to praise H3034 the LORD H3068 with the whole heart H3820 and to shew forth H5608 all His marvellous works Psalms 9:1.
  • A Promise of Everlasting Guidance: The use of the word in Psalms 48:14 affirms God's eternal nature and his commitment to his people. The promise that this God H430 will be "our guide even unto death" provides assurance of His constant presence throughout all of life's journey Psalms 48:14.

Summary

In summary, H4192 is a specialized term with a dual identity in scripture. It serves as a technical musical term, "Muthlabben," in the titling of a psalm, while also conveying the profound theological concept of death as the final point to which God's guidance extends. Its two occurrences demonstrate how a single Hebrew word can function in both the liturgical structure of worship and the deep promises of God's faithfulness.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and a noun 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.

  • מוּת
  • לַבֵּן

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.

H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H5329 נָצַח a primitive root; also as denominative from נֶצַח; properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintend H5090 נָהַג a primitive root; to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to proceed (i.e. H3034 יָדָה a primitive root; used only as denominative from יָד; literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw ( H3068 יְהֹוָה from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹו H3820 לֵב a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; like

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

2 verses, all in Psalms — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.