### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mâzôwr**, represented by `{{H4205}}`, refers to a **bandage** or **remedy**, and by extension, a **sore** or **wound** that requires binding up. Though specific, it is used sparingly in scripture, appearing only **3 times** across **2 unique verses**. Its meaning centers on the concept of an injury and the application of a cure.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical appearances, `{{H4205}}` is used metaphorically to describe the affliction of God's people. In Hosea, Ephraim's "sickness" `{{H2483}}` and Judah's **wound** `{{H4205}}` prompt them to seek help from the Assyrian king, who is powerless to heal them or cure their **wound** `{{H4205}}` [[Hosea 5:13]]. Similarly, Jeremiah describes a desolate state where there is no one to plead a cause so that it might be **bound up** `{{H4205}}`, a condition marked by a lack of "healing medicines" [[Jeremiah 30:13]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context of affliction and healing surrounding `{{H4205}}`:
* `{{H1455}}` **gâhâh** (cure): This verb, meaning to heal by removing a bandage, is used to describe what the Assyrian king could not do for Judah's wound [[Hosea 5:13]].
* `{{H2483}}` **chŏlîy** (sickness): This term for malady or disease is presented as the condition afflicting Ephraim which manifests as the "wound" described by `{{H4205}}` [[Hosea 5:13]].
* `{{H8585}}` **tᵉʻâlâh** (healing, bandage): Directly associated with `{{H4205}}`, this word describes the "healing" remedy that is absent in Jeremiah's prophecy, emphasizing the lack of a cure [[Jeremiah 30:13]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4205}}` is found in its use as a powerful metaphor.
* **Metaphor for National Decline:** The term is not used for a physical injury but for the spiritual and national decay of Israel and Judah. Their "wound" is a symptom of a deeper "sickness" [[Hosea 5:13]].
* **Inadequacy of Human Aid:** The context in [[Hosea 5:13]] explicitly shows the failure of relying on human powers for restoration. The Assyrian king cannot "heal" or "cure" the wound, pointing to a problem beyond political or military solutions.
* **Consequence of Judgment:** In Jeremiah, the wound that cannot be "bound up" `{{H4205}}` is linked to a lack of advocacy and available remedies, signaling a state of helplessness as a consequence of judgment [[Jeremiah 30:13]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4205}}` is a focused term that illustrates a state of severe affliction. While its base definition relates to a bandage or wound, its prophetic usage transforms it into a symbol of spiritual brokenness. It portrays a condition so grievous that earthly remedies are useless, pointing toward a wound that only divine intervention can address.
TRV