or מַחְסֹר; from חָסֵר; deficiency; hence, impoverishment; lack, need, penury, poor, poverty, want.
Transliteration:machçôwr
Pronunciation:makh-sore'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word machçôwr (מַחְסוֹר, `{{H4270}}`) originates from the verbal root חָסֵר (chasêr, `{{H2637}}`), which fundamentally means "to lack," "to be wanting," "to decrease," or "to fail." Therefore, machçôwr as a noun primarily signifies a state of "deficiency," "lack," or "absence" of something essential or desired.
Its semantic range encompasses:
* **Material Want:** Most commonly, it denotes physical or material "poverty," "penury," or "want"—a deprivation of necessary resources such as food, wealth, or shelter. This is its most prevalent usage in the biblical text.
* **General Need:** While less frequent, it can also extend to a broader sense of "need" or "insufficiency" in a more general, non-material context, though the emphasis remains on a tangible deficit.
* **Consequence:** The term often implies a resultant condition, a consequence of scarcity, deprivation, or specific actions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Machçôwr appears in various books of the Old Testament, predominantly in wisdom literature (Proverbs, Psalms) and occasionally in prophetic and historical texts. Its usage consistently highlights the nature and implications of lack.
* **Proverbs:** This book frequently links machçôwr to human behavior and its outcomes.
* In [[Proverbs 6:11]] and [[Proverbs 24:34]], machçôwr (poverty/want) is presented as a direct consequence of idleness and lack of diligence, illustrating a clear cause-and-effect relationship between sloth and deprivation.
* [[Proverbs 13:18]] connects "poverty and shame" (machçôwr and קָלוֹן, qālôn) with rejecting discipline, emphasizing the moral dimension of want.
* Conversely, [[Proverbs 28:27]] states, "He who gives to the poor will not lack (from the root חָסֵר), but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse." Here, machçôwr represents the state of poverty itself, and generosity is presented as a means to avoid it.
* **Psalms:** Machçôwr appears in contexts of divine provision and trust.
* [[Psalm 34:10]] (ESV: "The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.") is a powerful declaration that while even strong creatures can experience machçôwr, those who fear the Lord will be divinely sustained and will not lack any true good thing. This shifts the understanding of "lack" from a purely material state to a spiritual assurance of sufficiency in God.
* **Deuteronomy:** In the context of covenant curses, machçôwr signifies comprehensive deprivation.
* [[Deuteronomy 28:48]] warns that disobedience will lead to serving enemies "in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and in machçôwr of all things," painting a picture of total destitution as a divine judgment.
* **Jeremiah:** Machçôwr is linked to specific acts of idolatry.
* [[Jeremiah 44:18]] attributes the onset of "want" (machçôwr) to the cessation of burning incense to the "queen of heaven," again highlighting a cause-and-effect relationship between spiritual rebellion and material hardship.
* **Judges:** Machçôwr can also describe the *absence* of lack.
* [[Judges 18:10]] describes a land where there is "no machçôwr of anything," indicating a place of complete abundance and sufficiency.
Across these contexts, machçôwr consistently describes a state of severe want, often material, and is frequently presented as a consequence of human choices (idleness, disobedience) or as a condition from which God delivers His faithful.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding machçôwr is enhanced by examining its relationship to other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **Root חָסֵר (chasêr, `{{H2637}}`):** The verbal root from which machçôwr derives, meaning "to lack," "to be wanting," or "to diminish." The noun form emphasizes the *state* resulting from this verb.
* **רָשׁ (rash, `{{H7326}}`):** An adjective meaning "poor" or "needy," describing the individual who experiences machçôwr.
* **עָנִי (ani, `{{H6041}}`):** Another common adjective for "poor," "afflicted," or "humble," often used for those in a state of want or oppression.
* **אֶבְיוֹן (evyon, `{{H34}}`):** A term for the "needy" or "poor," often highlighting their desperate and helpless state, relying on others for assistance.
* **עֹנִי (oni, `{{H6040}}`):** A noun related to ani, signifying "affliction" or "poverty" as a condition.
* **רָעָב (ra'av, `{{H7458}}`):** "Hunger" or "famine," a specific and severe form of material lack often accompanying machçôwr, as seen in [[Deuteronomy 28:48]].
* **צָמָא (tsama, `{{H6772}}`):** "Thirst," another specific deprivation often paired with machçôwr in contexts of judgment.
The concept of machçôwr is thus deeply interwoven with biblical teachings on poverty, social justice, divine provision, and the consequences of human actions. It stands in stark contrast to concepts of blessing, abundance, and divine sustenance.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of machçôwr is profound and multi-layered, touching upon divine justice, human responsibility, and God's character.
1. **Consequence of Disobedience and Folly:** Machçôwr is frequently presented as a direct, often divinely ordained, consequence of turning away from God's commands or engaging in slothful and unwise behavior. [[Deuteronomy 28:48]] and [[Jeremiah 44:18]] clearly illustrate how material want can be a form of divine judgment or a natural outcome of rebellion against the covenant. This underscores a biblical principle that spiritual and moral health are often intrinsically linked to material well-being, or conversely, that spiritual decay can lead to deprivation.
2. **Highlighting Divine Provision and Faithfulness:** While machçôwr can be a consequence of sin, it also serves as a crucial backdrop against which God's unfailing faithfulness and provision are magnified. [[Psalm 34:10]] powerfully declares that those who fear the Lord will not suffer machçôwr of any good thing. This does not necessarily promise material wealth but assures that God will meet the genuine needs of His people, often through unexpected means or by sustaining them through difficult times. It shifts the focus from a purely material lack to a spiritual assurance of sufficiency found in God alone.
3. **Call to Compassion and Justice:** The pervasive presence of machçôwr in society serves as a constant and urgent call for God's people to embody justice and compassion. The Mosaic Law and the Prophets repeatedly command active care for the poor, the needy, and the vulnerable. The act of giving to the poor is explicitly linked to avoiding machçôwr oneself ([[Proverbs 28:27]]), highlighting a covenantal responsibility to alleviate the suffering caused by lack. This reflects God's own character as one who cares for the destitute.
4. **Emphasizing Human Dependence on God:** Ultimately, the concept of machçôwr underscores human finitude and absolute dependence on God. Whether experienced due to personal choices, societal injustice, or broader circumstances, the state of lack points to the reality that humans are not self-sufficient. True and ultimate sufficiency, both material and spiritual, flows from God, who is the ultimate source of all good things.
### Summary
The Hebrew word machçôwr (מַחְסוֹר, `{{H4270}}`) denotes "deficiency," "lack," "need," or "poverty." Derived from the root חָסֵר (chasêr, `{{H2637}}`), meaning "to lack," it primarily describes a state of material want or penury. Its occurrences in the Bible, particularly in wisdom literature and prophetic warnings, consistently link machçôwr to the consequences of idleness, disobedience, or divine judgment ([[Proverbs 6:11]], [[Deuteronomy 28:48]], [[Jeremiah 44:18]]). However, it also serves as a powerful contrast against God's abundant provision for those who fear Him, assuring that His faithful will not experience true lack of any good thing ([[Psalm 34:10]]). The concept of machçôwr thus underscores both the human responsibility for one's condition and the divine faithfulness in sustaining His people. Furthermore, the biblical response to machçôwr in society is a call to active compassion and justice, reflecting God's heart for the poor and needy ([[Proverbs 28:27]]). The word ultimately points to humanity's inherent dependence on God as the source of all sufficiency.