### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mâzeh**, represented by `{{H4198}}`, means **exhausted** or **burnt**. It is derived from an unused root that means to suck out. This highly specific term is one of the rarest in the Bible, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H4198}}` occurs in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]], within a prophecy describing the consequences of disobedience. The verse states, "They shall be **burnt** with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction." In this context, the word portrays a state of extreme exhaustion and emaciation caused by severe famine, a vivid depiction of divine judgment. The individual is not literally set on fire, but rather consumed and wasted away by lack of sustenance.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H4198}}` is amplified by the words that surround it in its only biblical appearance:
* `{{H7458}}` **râʻâb** (hunger): This term for **famine** or dearth is the direct cause of the state described by **mâzeh**. It is used to describe both a physical lack of food [[Ruth 1:1]] and a spiritual famine for God's word [[Amos 8:11]].
* `{{H3898}}` **lâcham** (devoured): While used here for consumption, its root meaning also implies **to battle** or **fight**. This connection suggests that the judgment is an active assault, not merely a passive state of decay. God is often depicted as the one who will **fight** for His people [[Exodus 14:14]].
* `{{H7565}}` **resheph** (burning heat): Defined as a **live coal**, **fever**, or **hot thunderbolt**, this word intensifies the sense of affliction. It describes the plagues of judgment [[Psalms 78:48]] but can also metaphorically describe the fiery intensity of love [[Song of Solomon 8:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4198}}` is concentrated in its role as an instrument of divine judgment.
* **Judgment through Famine:** The word’s primary function is to illustrate the severity of covenant curses. To be "burnt with hunger" [[Deuteronomy 32:24]] is a direct consequence of turning away from God, showing His use of deprivation as a form of punishment.
* **State of Utter Weakness:** The root meaning, "to suck out," implies being completely drained of strength and vitality. This state of exhaustion precedes further judgments, including attacks by beasts and serpents [[Deuteronomy 32:24]], indicating that God's initial punishment renders the unfaithful vulnerable to total destruction.
* **A Component of Compound Judgment:** `{{H4198}}` does not stand alone. It is part of a torrent of calamities in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]], including hunger, heat, destruction, and attack, illustrating that divine retribution can be overwhelming and multifaceted.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4198}}` is a rare but powerful word that captures a specific aspect of divine judgment. Its solitary appearance in scripture is unforgettable, describing a person so wasted by **hunger** that they are considered "burnt" or "exhausted." It serves as a stark warning within the covenant curses, illustrating a state of utter depletion and vulnerability as a consequence of disobedience.
TRV