### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **machănaq**, represented by `{{H4267}}`, means **choking; strangling**. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. Its singular use provides a stark and powerful image of profound despair.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H4267}}` is in the book of Job, where Job, in the midst of his suffering, expresses a dark preference. The verse states, "So that my soul chooseth **strangling**, and death rather than my life" [[Job 7:15]]. Here, the word is not describing an external act but an internal choice born from overwhelming anguish, where the very idea of **choking** is seen as a desirable escape from his physical and emotional torment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of `{{H4267}}` in [[Job 7:15]] is illuminated by the words surrounding it:
* `{{H977}}` **bâchar** (select; choose): This root word emphasizes that Job's desire for strangling is a conscious and deliberate choice, not a passive wish. It is the same word used when God commands His people to "choose life" [[Deuteronomy 30:19]].
* `{{H5315}}` **nephesh** (a breathing creature... soul): This refers to Job's innermost being, his very life force. The fact that it is his "soul" making this choice underscores the depth of his despair, a theme also seen where the soul is to be kept diligently [[Deuteronomy 4:9]].
* `{{H4194}}` **mâveth** (death): Presented as the ultimate alternative to Job's suffering, this word is paired directly with **strangling**. It is the same term used for the finality God will ultimately "swallow up in victory" [[Isaiah 25:8]].
* `{{H6106}}` **ʻetsem** (a bone; the body; selfsame): Translated as "my life" in this verse, it refers to Job's physical frame or "bones." This highlights his preference for death over the continued suffering of his own body, a body that can also be a vessel for God's word [[Jeremiah 20:9]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4267}}` comes entirely from its singular, dramatic context.
* **The Extremity of Suffering:** The word provides a biblical benchmark for the depth of human anguish. Its use illustrates a point where suffering is so immense that the soul itself actively chooses a violent end like **strangling**.
* **A Portrait of Despair:** `{{H4267}}` is not a prescriptive term but a descriptive one, capturing a raw moment of human desperation. Job's choice for **strangling** [[Job 7:15]] stands in stark contrast to God's command to "choose life" [[Deuteronomy 30:19]], showing the immense strain suffering places on faith.
* **The Choice of the Soul:** The action is chosen by Job's soul `{{H5315}}`, the very seat of life and will. This emphasizes that his trial is not just physical but has brought his entire being to a point of preferring death `{{H4194}}` to his current existence `{{H6106}}`.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4267}}` **machănaq** is a term whose power is derived from its rarity. It appears once to give voice to the deepest possible despair. Found only in the lament of Job, it represents the moment when a person's soul chooses **choking** and death over a life of unbearable pain. While other scriptures command the choice of life, this word's unique appearance validates the reality of human suffering that can push a person to the very brink of existence.
TRV