from חוּג; an instrument for marking a circle, i.e. compasses; compass.
Transliteration:mᵉchûwgâh
Pronunciation:mekk-oo-gaw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word מְחוּגָה (mᵉchûwgâh), transliterated as "mᵉchûwgâh" and assigned Strong's H4230, refers to "compasses" or "an instrument for marking a circle." Its etymology traces back to the verbal root חוּג (chûwg) `{{H2328}}`, which denotes the act of drawing a circle, encompassing, or revolving. Thus, מְחוּגָה specifically names the tool used to perform this action, emphasizing precision and the demarcation of circular boundaries. It signifies a device for creating perfect circles, reflecting human ingenuity in design and measurement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word מְחוּגָה is notably rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only once:
* [[Isaiah 44:13]]: "The carpenter stretches out his rule, he marks it out with a pencil; he shapes it with planes, and he marks it out with a compasses (מְחוּגָה), and makes it like the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in the house."
In this passage, the prophet Isaiah employs a vivid, satirical description of idol-making. The compasses are listed alongside other common woodworking tools—a rule, a pencil, and planes—used by a human craftsman. The meticulous detail in the description of the idol's creation, from initial marking to final shaping, serves to highlight the human effort and skill invested in producing an inanimate object. The irony is poignant: a tool of precise measurement, like the compasses, is used to fashion something utterly devoid of life or divine power, which is then worshipped as a god. This context underscores the absurdity of idolatry by contrasting the elaborate human process with the ultimate futility of the manufactured deity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word is the verbal root חוּג (chûwg) `{{H2328}}`, from which מְחוּגָה is derived. This root carries the meaning "to draw a circle, to encompass, to revolve." While מְחוּגָה refers to the physical instrument, חוּג often describes a divine action, particularly in the context of creation:
* [[Job 26:10]]: "He has inscribed a circle (חוּג) on the face of the waters, at the boundary between light and darkness."
* [[Proverbs 8:27]]: "When He established the heavens, I was there; when He inscribed a circle (חוּג) on the face of the deep."
These verses attribute to God the act of drawing cosmic circles, establishing boundaries, and imposing order upon chaos. This contrasts sharply with the human use of compasses to create limited, earthly forms. Other related concepts include tools of measurement and craftsmanship (e.g., rule, line, plumb line), and the broader theme of human ingenuity versus divine omnipotence.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of מְחוּגָה in [[Isaiah 44:13]] carries significant theological weight, primarily serving to illuminate the stark contrast between human craftsmanship and divine creation. While humans painstakingly employ tools like compasses to fashion finite, lifeless objects, God, without any instruments, spoke the universe into existence and "drew a circle" upon the deep, establishing cosmic order and boundaries ([[Proverbs 8:27]]; [[Job 26:10]]). The use of compasses in the context of idol-making highlights the futility and absurdity of idolatry. Human precision and effort, when directed towards creating false gods, are ultimately vain and misguided. The very tools that demonstrate human skill also reveal the creature's inability to impart true life or divine power. This passage critiques the human tendency to worship the work of their own hands, rather than the transcendent Creator who needs no tools to establish the cosmos.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מְחוּגָה (mᵉchûwgâh), H4230, denotes "compasses," an instrument for drawing circles. Derived from the root חוּג (chûwg) `{{H2328}}`, meaning "to draw a circle," its sole biblical appearance is in [[Isaiah 44:13]]. Here, it is listed among the tools used by a craftsman to fashion an idol, serving as a powerful rhetorical device to expose the absurdity of idolatry. Theologically, מְחוּגָה underscores the profound distinction between limited human craftsmanship and boundless divine creation. While human hands use compasses to create finite forms, God, through His word, establishes the immeasurable circles of the cosmos. The word thus functions as a subtle yet potent critique of misdirected human ingenuity, emphasizing the ultimate emptiness of worshipping anything other than the true Creator.
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