Word Study for H4231 (מָחוֹז)

mâchôwz /maw-khoze'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom an unused root meaning to enclose

Meaninga harbor (as shut in by the shore)

KJV usagehaven.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâchôwz — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mâchôwz, represented by H4231, means a harbor (as shut in by the shore); haven. It is derived from an unused root that means to enclose. This specific term is quite rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single biblical use of H4231 is found in Psalms 107:30, which describes a scene of divine rescue and deliverance. The verse states, "Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven." In this context, the haven is a place of safety and tranquility that is reached not by human effort alone, but by God's direct intervention, bringing gladness and peace after a period of turmoil.

Related Words & Concepts

The meaning of H4231 is enriched by the words used alongside it in its only appearance:

H8055 sâmach: This word for being glad or to rejoice highlights the emotional state of those brought to the haven. It is often associated with rejoicing in God Joel 2:23 and His salvation Isaiah 25:9.
H8367 shâthaq: Meaning to be quiet, calm, or to cease, this word emphasizes the peace of the haven. It is the same term used when the sea becomes calm for Jonah after the storm Jonah 1:11-12.
H5148 nâchâh: Translated as "he bringeth," this root means to guide or lead. It points to God's active role in deliverance, a theme seen elsewhere as He leads His people in paths of righteousness Psalms 23:3 and guides them continually Isaiah 58:11.
H2656 chêphets: The haven is not just any port, but a "desired" one. This word means pleasure or desire and is used for God's own pleasure or purpose Isaiah 46:10 and the delight a righteous person has in His law Psalms 1:2.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4231 is significant despite its rarity, illustrating a complete picture of salvation.

Divine Deliverance: The journey to the haven is accomplished by God, who "bringeth" H5148 His people to safety. This frames salvation not as a human achievement but as a divine act of guidance and rescue.
A Place of Rest: The destination is characterized by quietness H8367 and gladness H8055. This signifies that the ultimate refuge provided by God is one of profound spiritual peace and joy, a cessation from strife.
The Fulfillment of Purpose: The use of "desired" H2656 suggests the haven is the fulfillment of a deep longing. This aligns with chêphets being used for God's sovereign purpose, indicating that arriving at this place of safety is part of His divine plan Isaiah 53:10.

Summary

In summary, while H4231 appears only once, its context in Psalms 107:30 provides a rich and powerful metaphor. Mâchôwz represents far more than a physical harbor; it is a symbol of God's saving power, a divinely-guided destination of peace and joy that serves as the ultimate answer to the soul's deepest desires for refuge and rest.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מֵזַח
מְחוֹז

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Psalms — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.