The Hebrew word maṭbêach, represented by H4293, is a specific term for slaughter. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible. Derived from the root word for slaughter, its single use carries immense weight, signifying a prepared and deliberate act of judgment rather than a general term for killing.
The sole appearance of H4293 is in a prophetic declaration in Isaiah. The verse commands, "Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers" Isaiah 14:21. This act is not random but is presented as a direct consequence of ancestral sin. The purpose of this judgment is explicitly stated: to prevent the descendants from rising to power, possessing the land, and filling the world with their cities, thereby ending a corrupt lineage.
Several related words in the surrounding text of Isaiah 14:21 give depth to the meaning of H4293:
- H3559 kûwn (prepare): This word, meaning to set up or establish, shows that the slaughter is a planned and ordained event, not a chaotic one. It is an action being "prepared" Isaiah 14:21.
- H1121 bên (son): The objects of the slaughter are the "children," highlighting the generational aspect of this judgment Isaiah 14:21. This concept is also seen where God visits the iniquity of fathers upon their children Exodus 20:5.
- H5771 ʻâvôn (iniquity): This specifies the reason for the slaughter—the moral evil and perversity of the "fathers." This links the consequence directly to the sin Isaiah 14:21.
- H1 ʼâb (father): This word identifies the source of the iniquity that leads to the judgment upon the children, establishing a clear line of accountability Isaiah 14:21.
- H6965 qûwm (to rise): The stated goal of the slaughter is to ensure this wicked lineage does not "rise" again, underscoring the finality and preventative nature of the judgment Isaiah 14:21.
The theological weight of H4293 is concentrated entirely within its context of divine judgment.
- Generational Judgment: The term is explicitly used in a context where the consequence of sin is passed down. The slaughter is for the children because of "the iniquity of their fathers" Isaiah 14:21, a principle also seen in God visiting iniquity on future generations Exodus 34:7.
- Divine Prevention: The slaughter serves a preventative purpose. It is carried out specifically so that the descendants "do not rise, nor possess the land" Isaiah 14:21. This demonstrates a divine intervention meant to permanently stop the spread and influence of an evil line.
- Consequence of Iniquity: H4293 is inextricably linked to H5771, iniquity. The verse presents slaughter as the severe, but direct, repercussion for moral evil, illustrating the gravity with which God views sustained, unrepentant sin.
In summary, H4293 maṭbêach is a term of stark and focused severity. Its single biblical instance in Isaiah 14:21 defines it not as a common act of violence, but as a prepared, divinely commanded slaughter enacted as a final judgment. It encapsulates the solemn themes of generational iniquity and God's sovereign power to bring a definitive end to a wicked legacy.
TRV