(Aramaic) corresponding to מָחָא; to strike in pieces; also to arrest; specifically to impale; hang, smite, stay.
Transliteration:mᵉchâʼ
Pronunciation:mekh-aw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic verb `{{H4223}}` (mᵉchâʼ) is a significant term, corresponding to the Hebrew `{{H4229}}` (māḥāʼ). Its fundamental meaning revolves around the concept of "striking" or "smiting." This core sense extends to various forceful actions, encompassing a spectrum of applications:
1. **To strike in pieces:** Implies a forceful, often destructive, impact that shatters or breaks.
2. **To arrest/stay/restrain:** Denotes the application of force to bring something to a halt, to prevent movement, or to hold back. This can be physical restraint or the cessation of an activity.
3. **To impale/hang:** Specifically refers to a severe form of capital punishment involving the piercing or suspending of a body. This is a direct outcome of a forceful, decisive action.
The semantic range thus moves from a general act of striking to specific applications involving cessation, restraint, and even execution, all underpinned by the exertion of force.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
As an Aramaic word, `{{H4223}}` is found exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Daniel and Ezra. Its usage provides crucial insight into its various nuances:
* **Daniel 4:35**: "All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can *stay* his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’" Here, *mᵉchâʼ* signifies the inability of anyone to "restrain" or "prevent" God's sovereign actions. It underscores the absolute and unchallengeable nature of divine authority.
* **Daniel 5:6**: "Then the king's face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His joints gave way, and his knees *knocked* against each other." In this vivid description of Belshazzar's terror, *mᵉchâʼ* describes the physical act of his knees "striking" or "knocking" together, a clear manifestation of extreme fear and weakness.
* **Daniel 6:24**: "And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they *cast* them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces." While translated as "cast" or "threw," the underlying sense of *mᵉchâʼ* here implies a forceful, decisive action of putting the accusers into the den.
* **Ezra 4:23**: "Then, as soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and *by force and power made them cease*." Here, *mᵉchâʼ* denotes the forceful cessation of the temple rebuilding work. It signifies a strong, authoritative intervention to stop an activity.
* **Ezra 6:11**: "Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a timber shall be pulled from his house, and when set up, he shall be *impaled* on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill for this." This is a precise and grim use of *mᵉchâʼ*, referring to the act of execution by "impaling," a method that involves piercing the body.
These contexts reveal the versatility of `{{H4223}}`, ranging from physical impact and restraint to the ultimate act of judicial execution.
### Related Words & Concepts
The Aramaic `{{H4223}}` finds its closest linguistic kin in the Hebrew cognate `{{H4229}}` (māḥāʼ), which also means "to strike," "to clap," or "to smite." This shared root highlights the core meaning of forceful action.
Related concepts and words include:
* **Forcible Cessation/Restraint:** The idea of stopping or hindering is also conveyed by Hebrew terms like `{{H3607}}` (kâlâʼ, "to restrain, withhold") or `{{H6113}}` (ʻâtsar, "to restrain, shut up").
* **Physical Impact/Smiting:** Hebrew words such as `{{H5221}}` (nâkâh, "to strike, smite") and `{{H1986}}` (hâlam, "to strike down") share the sense of forceful physical contact.
* **Capital Punishment/Execution:** While `{{H4223}}` specifically denotes impalement in Ezra 6:11, other forms of execution are represented by terms like `{{H8518}}` (tâlâh, "to hang") or `{{H4191}}` (mûth, "to die, to be put to death").
* **Sovereignty and Resistance:** The usage in Daniel 4:35 relates to the concept of divine omnipotence and the futility of human resistance, a theme explored throughout scripture.
### Theological Significance
The occurrences of `{{H4223}}` carry profound theological weight:
* **Divine Sovereignty and Irresistibility:** The declaration in Daniel 4:35, that no one can "stay" God's hand, is a powerful affirmation of His absolute sovereignty. It underscores the biblical truth that God's will is supreme, His purposes are unthwartable, and His power is beyond human or angelic challenge. This highlights His omnipotence and ultimate control over creation and history.
* **Consequences of Rebellion and Justice:** The decree of impalement in Ezra 6:11 serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for those who defy God's established decrees or oppose His redemptive plans. It reflects the gravity of divine justice and the seriousness with which God views obedience to His commands. While a human decree, it aligns with biblical principles of justice against those who frustrate divine purposes.
* **Human Frailty and Divine Judgment:** Belshazzar's knees "knocking" in Daniel 5:6 vividly portrays the physical and psychological impact of divine judgment and the terror it can evoke in the unrighteous. It emphasizes the vulnerability of humanity before the awesome power and holiness of God.
* **Opposition to God's Work:** The forceful cessation of the temple rebuilding in Ezra 4:23 illustrates the constant opposition that God's people and His work often face in the world. It highlights the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for divine intervention to overcome such obstacles.
### Summary
The Aramaic verb `{{H4223}}` (mᵉchâʼ) is a dynamic term primarily signifying "to strike" or "to smite." Its semantic range extends to "forcefully stopping" or "restraining," and specifically to the act of "impaling" as a form of execution. Found in the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra, its uses are highly contextual and theologically rich. It powerfully articulates the unchallengeable sovereignty of God, whose hand no one can "stay" ([[Daniel 4:35]]). It also depicts the physical manifestation of human terror in the face of divine judgment ([[Daniel 5:6]]), the forceful obstruction of God's work by adversaries ([[Ezra 4:23]]), and the severe consequences for those who defy divine decrees, culminating in the grim reality of impalement as punishment ([[Ezra 6:11]]). Thus, `{{H4223}}` serves as a potent descriptor of both divine and human action, underscoring themes of power, authority, judgment, and the profound interplay between God's will and human response.
TRV