### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H4221}}` (מֹחַ, *môach*) fundamentally refers to "marrow," the soft, fatty, and highly vascular tissue found within the bones. Derived from the same root as `{{H4325}}` (מֵחַ, *mêach*), it conveys a sense of richness, fatness, and the innermost, vital essence of a physical structure. Semantically, it points to the deepest, most nourishing, and robust part of the body, symbolizing profound health, vitality, and internal abundance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H4221}}` (מֹחַ, *môach*) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, making its singular context particularly significant for understanding its nuance:
* **[[Job 21:24]]**: "His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow." (KJV) or "His sides are fat with prosperity, and his bones are moist with marrow." (ESV)
In this passage, Job is lamenting the prosperity of the wicked, challenging the conventional wisdom of his friends who argue that suffering is always a direct result of sin. The phrase "his bones are moistened with marrow" (עַצְמוֹתָיו מֹחַ יְשֻׁקֶּה) is a vivid description of profound physical health and robust well-being. It signifies not just superficial prosperity but a deep, internal vitality and richness that permeates even the very core of their being. The imagery of bones "moistened" or "irrigated" with marrow emphasizes an overflowing, continuous state of health and abundance, suggesting that the wicked are not merely thriving externally but are internally nourished and strong, contrary to the expectation that their sin should lead to decay and weakness.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is `{{H4325}}` (מֵחַ, *mêach*), which also means "marrow" or "fatness" and confirms the core semantic domain of internal richness and vitality. Other related concepts and words in the Hebrew Bible that touch upon fatness, richness, or prosperity include:
* `{{H2459}}` (חֵלֶב, *chelev*): General term for fat, often the choicest part of an animal, frequently offered to God in sacrifices. It denotes the best and most substantial part.
* `{{H1879}}` (דֶּשֶׁן, *deshen*): Fatness, richness, fertility, often associated with ashes from fat offerings, signifying abundance.
* `{{H8082}}` (שָׁמֵן, *shamen*): A verb meaning "to be fat," "to grow rich," or "to prosper," often used in contexts of material blessing.
* Concepts of health, vitality, strength, abundance, and prosperity, particularly as they relate to the physical body and material well-being.
### Theological Significance
Despite its solitary occurrence, the use of `{{H4221}}` (מֹחַ, *môach*) in [[Job 21:24]] carries significant theological weight within the book of Job. It serves as a powerful rhetorical device for Job to challenge the simplistic retribution theology espoused by his friends. The image of the wicked having bones "moistened with marrow" vividly portrays a state of complete, unblemished physical and material flourishing.
Theologically, this challenges the notion that God always metes out immediate, observable justice in this life, where the righteous prosper and the wicked suffer. Instead, Job observes a perplexing reality where the wicked often enjoy robust health and abundant life, even to their very core, while the righteous may suffer. The "marrow" here symbolizes the deepest, most vital part of existence, highlighting that the wicked's prosperity is not superficial but deeply ingrained and sustained. This observation forces a deeper theological reflection on divine providence, the nature of justice, and the temporary flourishing of those who do not acknowledge God, pushing the reader beyond simplistic cause-and-effect explanations of suffering and blessing.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H4221}}` (מֹחַ, *môach*), meaning "marrow," denotes the innermost, vital, and nourishing substance within bones, symbolizing profound health and internal richness. Its sole biblical appearance in [[Job 21:24]] is crucial, as it describes the wicked as possessing bones "moistened with marrow," illustrating their robust health and deep-seated prosperity. This singular usage underscores Job's challenging argument against a simplistic understanding of divine justice, where the wicked are often seen to thrive completely, even to the very core of their being. Theologically, `{{H4221}}` highlights the perplexing reality of the wicked's flourishing in this life, prompting deeper consideration of God's mysterious ways and the complex relationship between righteousness, suffering, and worldly prosperity.
TRV