or מְחִיּיָאֵל; from מָחָה and אֵל; smitten of God; Mechujael or Mechijael, an antediluvian patriarch; Mehujael.
Transliteration:Mᵉchûwyâʼêl
Pronunciation:mekh-oo-yaw-ale'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma H4232, Mᵉchûwyâʼêl (or Mᵉchîyyâʼêl), is a compound proper noun, a theophoric name, derived from two distinct Hebrew elements. The first component is likely related to the verb מָחָה (machah, `{{H4229}}`), which carries a primary semantic range of "to wipe," "to blot out," "to erase," or "to destroy." It can also signify "to smite" or "to strike." The second component is אֵל (El, `{{H410}}`), the common Hebrew word for "God." Therefore, the most widely accepted interpretations of Mᵉchûwyâʼêl are "Smitten of God" or "Wiped away by God." The passive participle form implied in the name suggests an action done *to* the individual by divine agency. This could imply a sense of divine judgment, affliction, or even a more general, yet profound, divine intervention in the life or destiny of the named individual.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name Mᵉchûwyâʼêl appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, within the highly significant antediluvian genealogies of Genesis:
* [[Genesis 4:18]]: "And Enoch was born to Irad, and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech."
This verse places Mᵉchûwyâʼêl as a patriarch in the lineage of Cain, specifically the great-grandson of Cain. This genealogy (Cain -> Enoch -> Irad -> Mehujael -> Methushael -> Lamech) is presented in stark contrast to the line of Seth, which ultimately leads to Noah. The Cainite line is associated with the early development of human civilization, including city-building and various crafts ([[Genesis 4:17, 20-22]]), but also with increasing violence and rebellion against God, culminating in Lamech's boastful declaration of vengeance ([[Genesis 4:23-24]]). The name "Smitten of God" within this particular lineage holds a potent, possibly ironic or prophetic, significance, hinting at the divine judgment that would eventually "smite" or "wipe away" this corrupted line and the world through the Great Flood.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root מָחָה (machah, `{{H4229}}`). This root is used extensively in the Old Testament to describe God's actions of "blotting out" or "wiping away." Notably, it appears in contexts such as:
* God's threat to "blot out" the name of Israel from under heaven ([[Deuteronomy 9:14]]).
* God's promise to "blot out" transgressions ([[Isaiah 43:25]]).
* The Psalmist's plea for God to "blot out" his iniquities ([[Psalm 51:1, 9]]).
Most significantly, the very same root is used to describe God's decision to "blot out" or "wipe away" humanity from the face of the earth due to their wickedness before the Flood ([[Genesis 6:7]], [[Genesis 7:4, 23]]). This direct linguistic connection between Mᵉchûwyâʼêl's name and the narrative of the Flood underscores its potential prophetic nature.
The second component, אֵל (El, `{{H410}}`), is a fundamental term for God in Hebrew and forms part of numerous other biblical names (e.g., Israel, Immanuel, Daniel, Ezekiel), signifying a relationship with or characteristic of God. The concept of divine judgment, often expressed through "smiting" or "wiping out," is a recurring theological theme throughout Scripture, from the plagues in Egypt to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and ultimately to eschatological judgments.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of Mᵉchûwyâʼêl's name ("Smitten of God") within the Cainite genealogy is profound and multifaceted.
1. **Prophetic Foreshadowing:** The name serves as a subtle yet powerful foreshadowing of the impending divine judgment. As the lineage of Cain increasingly descends into violence and godlessness, the name Mᵉchûwyâʼêl stands as a quiet premonition that God would indeed "smite" or "wipe away" the unrighteous world through the Flood. It suggests that the seeds of divine judgment were present even in the naming conventions of this early, fallen humanity.
2. **Divine Sovereignty and Justice:** The name implicitly affirms God's ultimate sovereignty over human history and His unwavering justice. Even amidst the burgeoning wickedness of the antediluvian world, God's nature as the one who judges and acts decisively against sin is affirmed. The name suggests that divine awareness and potential judgment were always present, even if not immediately manifested.
3. **Contrast of Lineages:** The inclusion of such a name in Cain's line highlights the spiritual trajectory of that lineage, which, despite its technological advancements, was marked by increasing separation from God. This stands in stark contrast to the line of Seth, which "began to call upon the name of the Lord" ([[Genesis 4:26]]), emphasizing the divergent spiritual paths of humanity before the Flood.
4. **The Pervasiveness of Sin and its Consequences:** Mᵉchûwyâʼêl's name underscores the pervasive nature of sin and its inevitable consequences. It suggests that the divine response to human rebellion was not a sudden, arbitrary act, but rather a culmination of increasing depravity, foreseen and perhaps even encoded in the names of those who lived in that era.
### Summary
Mᵉchûwyâʼêl (`{{H4232}}`), meaning "Smitten of God" or "Wiped away by God," is a solitary yet highly significant name found in the biblical record, identifying a patriarch in the lineage of Cain ([[Genesis 4:18]]). Derived from מָחָה (machah, `{{H4229}}`, "to wipe out," "to smite") and אֵל (El, `{{H410}}`, "God"), the name carries a striking theological weight. Its unique placement within the increasingly unrighteous and violent Cainite genealogy serves as a poignant, perhaps prophetic, foreshadowing of the divine judgment that would ultimately "smite" or "wipe away" the corrupt antediluvian world through the Great Flood ([[Genesis 6:7]]). Thus, Mᵉchûwyâʼêl's name subtly underscores God's sovereign justice, the pervasive nature of sin's consequences, and the stark spiritual contrast between the two primary human lineages in early Genesis.
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