### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term `{{H4193}}` (môwth) directly corresponds to the more frequently occurring Hebrew word `{{H4194}}` (maveth), both signifying "death." Its primary meaning denotes the cessation of life, the state of being dead, or the act leading to death. In its singular biblical occurrence, `{{H4193}}` is found within a phrase that describes a severe, fatal punishment, indicating not merely the state of death but the execution or a death-dealing blow. This highlights its semantic range to include the *means* or *result* of a lethal action, particularly within the context of a legal or royal decree.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The Aramaic term `{{H4193}}` appears only once in the biblical text, in [[Ezra 6:11]]. The verse reads: "Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this." The phrase in question is "בְּמוֹת יְמִין" (bə·mō·wṯ yə·mî·n), which the King James Version translates as "let him be hanged thereon." Other translations render it as "impaled on it" (ESV, NIV).
Scholarly interpretation of "בְּמוֹת יְמִין" varies. Some suggest "by a fatal blow of the right hand," indicating a specific method of execution. Others interpret it as "by hanging" or "impaling," where the timber from one's own house becomes the instrument of death. Regardless of the precise method, the context is unequivocally one of a decreed, capital punishment. King Darius issues this decree concerning the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, asserting severe consequences for anyone who attempts to hinder or alter his command. The use of `{{H4193}}` here underscores the absolute and terminal nature of the penalty, serving as a powerful deterrent against disobedience to the royal edict that supports God's people.
### Related Words & Concepts
As the Aramaic equivalent, `{{H4193}}` is most closely related to the Hebrew noun `{{H4194}}` (maveth), which broadly covers physical death, the realm of death (Sheol), and spiritual death. The verb "to die" in Hebrew is `{{H4191}}` (muth). Other related concepts include:
* `{{H6299}}` (peger): "corpse," "dead body."
* `{{H7526}}` (ratzach): "to murder," "to kill."
* `{{H2078}}` (zevach): "slaughter," often in sacrificial contexts, but can also refer to violent death.
* Legal and judicial terms related to capital punishment, judgment, and execution, reflecting the context of its sole occurrence.
* The broader biblical themes of divine justice, consequences for sin or disobedience, and the exercise of authority (both human and divine).
### Theological Significance
While `{{H4193}}` appears in a human, royal decree, its context within the book of Ezra imbues it with theological significance. Darius's decree, though from a pagan king, serves God's purposes by facilitating the rebuilding of His Temple. The severity of the penalty—death—for those who would oppose this divine work highlights the gravity of obstructing God's will. It underscores a principle of divine order and justice, where even secular authorities can be instruments in upholding righteous decrees, with severe consequences for defiance.
The phrase "death by the right hand" or "hanging/impaling" signifies an irreversible and public end. This serves as a stark reminder of the ultimate consequences of rebellion against authority, whether human or divine. In a broader theological sense, death itself is presented throughout Scripture as the ultimate consequence of sin and disobedience ([[Romans 6:23]]). While `{{H4193}}` describes a physical execution, it points to the profound finality associated with death as a judgment, a theme consistently present across the biblical narrative.
### Summary
`{{H4193}}` (môwth) is an Aramaic term meaning "death," functioning as the direct equivalent of the Hebrew `{{H4194}}` (maveth). Its singular occurrence in [[Ezra 6:11]] is within a royal decree by King Darius, prescribing a fatal punishment for anyone who hinders the rebuilding of the Temple. The term emphasizes the absolute and irreversible nature of this capital penalty, whether interpreted as a specific method of execution (e.g., "by a fatal blow of the right hand") or a form of impalement. Theologically, its usage underscores the gravity of opposing divine will, even when mediated through secular authority, and reflects the broader biblical understanding of death as a severe consequence of disobedience.
TRV