### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H4198}}` (מָזֶה, mâzeh) derives from an unused root signifying "to suck out." This etymological foundation provides the semantic core of the word, pointing towards a process of depletion or exhaustion. Consequently, its primary definitions encompass states of being "exhausted" or "burnt." The nuance of "sucking out" implies a draining or consuming action, leading to a state of being utterly spent, devoid of substance, or consumed by an external force. When applied to "burnt," it suggests a condition of being scorched or consumed by fire, leaving behind desolation and ruin. The combined meaning thus conveys a profound sense of severe depletion, destruction, and irreversible desolation, often as a result of intense heat or consuming power.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H4198}}` is remarkably rare, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible, within the prophetic Song of Moses in Deuteronomy:
* **[[Deuteronomy 32:24]]**: "They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured by burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust."
In this sole occurrence, `{{H4198}}` (מָזֶה, mâzeh) appears in the construct plural form, *m'zei*, translated by the King James Version as "devoured by burning heat" (מְזֵי רָעָב וּלְחֻמֵי רֶשֶׁף). The phrase pairs m'zei with `{{H7565}}` (resheph), which denotes "burning heat," "flame," or "pestilence." This specific collocation strongly reinforces the "burnt" or "consumed by heat" aspect of `{{H4198}}`, portraying a devastating and consuming judgment. The parallelism within the verse, contrasting "wasted with hunger" (מְזֵי רָעָב) with "devoured by burning heat," further emphasizes a state of extreme physical and existential depletion. The context of [[Deuteronomy 32]] is God's prophetic warning to Israel regarding the severe consequences of their covenant unfaithfulness, illustrating how divine judgment would manifest through various forms of destruction, including famine, plague, and hostile forces. Here, `{{H4198}}` vividly describes the intense, consuming nature of this judgment, leaving its victims utterly ravaged and spent.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic range of `{{H4198}}` connects it to several key biblical concepts:
* **Depletion and Wasting:** The idea of being "exhausted" or "sucked out" relates to terms describing physical emaciation or spiritual barrenness, such as `{{H7323}}` (razah, "to make lean, waste away") or concepts of land being laid waste (e.g., `{{H2717}}`, chereb, "desolation").
* **Burning and Consumption:** The "burnt" aspect directly links to words denoting fire and its destructive power, such as `{{H784}}` (esh, "fire") or `{{H8316}}` (saraph, "to burn"). Crucially, its direct association with `{{H7565}}` (resheph, "burning heat, flame") in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]] underscores this aspect.
* **Divine Judgment and Wrath:** As a descriptor of the consequences of divine judgment, `{{H4198}}` resonates with terms for God's anger (e.g., `{{H2534}}`, chemah) and the various forms of divine retribution, including pestilence, famine, and war, which serve as instruments of His justice.
* **Desolation and Ruin:** The outcome implied by `{{H4198}}` is a state of utter ruin, paralleling concepts of utter destruction and desolation (e.g., `{{H2721}}`, charab, "to be desolate").
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of `{{H4198}}` in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]] carries profound theological weight within the broader context of covenant theology and divine justice. It serves as a stark warning of the ultimate consequences of Israel's apostasy.
1. **Divine Retribution and Consequence:** `{{H4198}}` powerfully illustrates the severity of God's righteous judgment against disobedience. It depicts a state of being utterly consumed and wasted, not merely by natural forces, but by divine decree. The "burning heat" is not merely a meteorological phenomenon but an instrument of God's wrath, leaving nothing but desolation.
2. **The Consuming Nature of Holiness:** The word subtly points to the consuming nature of God's holiness when confronted with sin. Just as fire purifies or destroys, the "burning heat" described by `{{H4198}}` signifies a divine force that utterly consumes that which opposes God's righteous standards.
3. **Warning and Exhortation:** In its context, `{{H4198}}` functions as a vivid rhetorical device within the Song of Moses, designed to impress upon the Israelites the dire future awaiting them should they abandon their covenant with Yahweh. It is a terrifying image of total ruin, intended to provoke repentance and faithful adherence.
4. **Existential Depletion:** Beyond physical destruction, the root meaning of "sucking out" suggests a deeper, existential depletion. It implies a state where life, vitality, and even hope are drained away, leaving a people utterly exhausted and without recourse.
### Summary
`{{H4198}}` (מָזֶה, mâzeh) is a rare but potent Hebrew word, appearing exclusively in [[Deuteronomy 32:24]]. Derived from an unused root meaning "to suck out," its core semantic range encompasses "exhausted" and "burnt." In its sole biblical occurrence, it describes those "devoured by burning heat" as a consequence of divine judgment, powerfully illustrating the intensity and consuming nature of God's wrath against covenant unfaithfulness. Theologically, `{{H4198}}` underscores the severe, desolating effects of divine retribution, portraying a state of utter ruin and existential depletion. It serves as a stark warning within the prophetic Song of Moses, emphasizing the inescapable and consuming consequences of rebellion against the Holy God of Israel.
TRV