sometimes מַכְאוֹב; also (feminine Isaiah 53:3) מַכְאֹבָה; from כָּאַב; anguish or (figuratively) affliction; grief, pain, sorrow.
Transliteration:makʼôb
Pronunciation:mak-obe'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H4341}}` (מַכְאֹב, *makʼôb*), sometimes appearing as מַכְאוֹב and in its feminine form מַכְאֹבָה (*makʼôbah*) as in [[Isaiah 53:3]], derives from the verbal root `{{H3510}}` (כָּאַב, *kaʼab*), meaning "to be in pain" or "to suffer." As a noun, `{{H4341}}` encapsulates a profound and often multifaceted experience of distress. Its semantic range is broad, encompassing:
* **Physical Pain:** Acute bodily suffering or discomfort.
* **Emotional Anguish/Grief:** Deep sorrow, heartache, or mental distress. This is a common and prominent usage.
* **Affliction:** A state of being troubled, oppressed, or subjected to hardship, often implying a severe and enduring condition.
Thus, `{{H4341}}` describes a comprehensive sense of inner and outer suffering, a fundamental human experience of woe.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H4341}}` appears throughout the Hebrew Bible, particularly in contexts of intense suffering, both individual and corporate.
* In the book of Job, `{{H4341}}` frequently describes the patriarch's overwhelming physical and emotional torment. After his calamities, Job's friends sit with him in silence, witnessing his profound "pain" (מַכְאֹב) for seven days ([[Job 2:13]]). Later, Job laments that his soul "mourns over him" with this very pain ([[Job 14:22]]).
* The Psalms often employ `{{H4341}}` to articulate the psalmist's personal distress and plea for divine intervention. For instance, [[Psalm 32:10]] warns that "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked," while [[Psalm 38:17]] reveals the psalmist's vulnerability: "For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me."
* Prophetic literature, especially Isaiah and Jeremiah/Lamentations, uses `{{H4341}}` to convey the deep anguish resulting from sin, judgment, and exile. [[Jeremiah 30:15]] speaks of an incurable "sorrow" (מַכְאֹב) due to Israel's transgressions. Most poignantly, [[Lamentations 1:12]] cries out: "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me."
* The most theologically significant occurrences are found in the Suffering Servant passages of Isaiah. [[Isaiah 53:3]] famously describes the Servant as "a man of sorrows (אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת, *ish mak'ovot*) and acquainted with grief." This verse, along with [[Isaiah 53:4]] ("Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows"), portrays the Servant's vicarious suffering, where He takes upon Himself the `{{H4341}}` of humanity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of suffering in Hebrew is rich, and `{{H4341}}` interacts with several related terms:
* **`{{H3510}}` (כָּאַב, *kaʼab*):** The verbal root from which `{{H4341}}` is derived. While `{{H3510}}` describes the *act* of being in pain or grieving, `{{H4341}}` denotes the *state* or *experience* of that pain.
* **`{{H6045}}` (עָצָב, *atsav*):** This term refers to pain, toil, or sorrow, often associated with the consequences of sin or the labor of life (e.g., [[Genesis 3:16-17]]). While `{{H6045}}` can be general, `{{H4341}}` often conveys a more intense, personal anguish.
* **`{{H3015}}` (יָגוֹן, *yagon*):** This word primarily denotes grief or sorrow, particularly in the context of mourning or deep sadness. It shares significant overlap with the emotional aspect of `{{H4341}}`.
* **`{{H2478}}` (חֹלִי, *choli*):** Meaning sickness or disease, `{{H2478}}` refers more specifically to a physical ailment, though such conditions often lead to `{{H4341}}`.
* **`{{H7451}}` (רַע, *ra*):** This broad term signifies evil, trouble, or calamity. `{{H7451}}` often describes the *cause* or *circumstance* that leads to the experience of `{{H4341}}`.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4341}}` is profound and multifaceted:
* **The Reality of Suffering:** `{{H4341}}` vividly portrays the pervasive reality of suffering in a fallen world, a consequence of sin and the brokenness of creation. It underscores the human condition of vulnerability and distress.
* **Divine Judgment and Discipline:** In some contexts, `{{H4341}}` is presented as a consequence of unfaithfulness or divine judgment, serving as a disciplinary measure intended to lead to repentance ([[Jeremiah 30:15]]).
* **The Suffering of the Righteous:** The book of Job and many Psalms grapple with the perplexing question of why the righteous experience `{{H4341}}`. This challenges simplistic retribution theology and invites deeper reflection on God's sovereignty and purposes in suffering.
* **Messianic Atonement:** The most pivotal theological contribution of `{{H4341}}` lies in its application to the Suffering Servant in [[Isaiah 53]]. The description of the Servant as "a man of sorrows" (אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת) transforms the concept of pain from a mere consequence to a redemptive act. The Servant bears humanity's `{{H4341}}` – our griefs and sorrows – not for His own sin, but vicariously for the sins of others, thereby achieving atonement and peace. This redefines suffering as a potential conduit for divine grace and salvation.
* **God's Empathy:** Through the Suffering Servant, who fully enters into human `{{H4341}}`, the biblical narrative reveals God's profound empathy for His suffering creation, demonstrating that He is not distant from our pain but intimately acquainted with it.
### Summary
`{{H4341}}` (מַכְאֹב, *makʼôb*) is a potent Hebrew term denoting deep, comprehensive suffering, encompassing physical pain, emotional anguish, and general affliction. Derived from `{{H3510}}` (כָּאַב, *kaʼab*), it frequently appears in wisdom literature, psalms, and prophetic texts to articulate the profound distress of the human condition. Its usage in [[Isaiah 53]] is particularly significant, where it characterizes the redemptive suffering of the Messiah, who bore humanity's `{{H4341}}` to bring healing and peace. Thus, `{{H4341}}` transitions from a descriptor of human woe to a pivotal concept in understanding divine atonement and the empathetic nature of God.
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