from יָכֹל; properly, a container, i.e. a streamlet; brook.
Transliteration:mîykâl
Pronunciation:me-kawl'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H4323 (מִיכָל, mîykâl) is defined as "a container, i.e. a streamlet; brook." Its etymological root is linked to `{{H3201}}` (יָכֹל, yakol), meaning "to be able, capable, prevail." This connection suggests that mîykâl refers to something that *can* contain or *can* hold, specifically water. Thus, a "brook" or "streamlet" is understood as a natural container or channel capable of holding and conveying water. The semantic range is quite narrow, pointing directly to a small body of flowing water, emphasizing its capacity as a vessel within the landscape.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H4323 (mîykâl) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in [[2 Samuel 17:20]]. In this passage, it describes a geographical feature: "And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” the woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem." The context is purely descriptive, referring to a physical "brook of water" (מִיכָל מַיִם, *mîykâl mayim*). This brook serves as a literal landmark or a place of concealment for Ahimaaz and Jonathan, who were fleeing Absalom's servants. Its use is straightforward, indicating a small stream or watercourse that could be crossed.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word to H4323 is its root, `{{H3201}}` (יָכֹל, yakol), which signifies "to be able, capable, or to prevail." While the semantic connection between "ability" and "brook" is not immediately obvious in English, the underlying sense of a "container" or "channel" that *can* hold water bridges this etymological gap. Other Hebrew terms for bodies of water, though not directly related in root, provide conceptual parallels. These include `{{H5158}}` (נַחַל, naḥal), which commonly denotes a "wadi" or "torrent-valley" and is frequently translated as "brook" or "stream," and `{{H5104}}` (נָהָר, nahar), meaning "river." H4323 stands out due to its singular occurrence and its specific etymological link, suggesting a particular nuance of a water-bearing capacity.
### Theological Significance
Due to its singular occurrence and literal usage as a geographical descriptor in a historical narrative, H4323 (mîykâl) carries no independent, explicit theological significance. It does not appear in prophetic, poetic, or legal texts where it might acquire symbolic meaning. However, within the broader biblical landscape, water in general, and brooks specifically (like the Brook Kidron or Jabbok), often serve as significant elements in divine narratives, symbolizing life, cleansing, boundaries, or divine provision. While mîykâl itself does not embody these themes, its presence as a "brook of water" in [[2 Samuel 17:20]] contributes to the realism of the biblical setting, where natural features often play a role in the unfolding of God's redemptive history, even if only as silent witnesses or practical obstacles/aids.
### Summary
H4323 (מִיכָל, mîykâl) designates a "brook" or "streamlet," deriving from the root `{{H3201}}` (yakol), implying a natural "container" or channel capable of holding water. Its sole appearance in [[2 Samuel 17:20]] describes a literal "brook of water" that served as a physical feature in the narrative of Ahimaaz and Jonathan's escape. While it lacks direct theological import, its presence underscores the grounded reality of biblical events within the natural world. It is a unique term, distinct from more common words for streams, highlighting a specific nuance of water-bearing capacity.
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