Word Study for H4364 (מַכְמָר)

makmâr /mak-mawr'/ Ask about this word

Rootor מִכְמֹר · from כָּמַר in the sense of blackening by heat

Meaninga (hunter's) net (as dark from concealment)

KJV usagenet.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of makmâr — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word makmâr, represented by H4364, refers to a net. Derived from a root meaning "blackening by heat," it specifically denotes a hunter's net, likely called such because it was dark for concealment. This term is rare, appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, H4364 is used metaphorically to depict entrapment. In Isaiah, the sons of Jerusalem have fainted and lie H7901 helpless "as a wild bull H8377 in a net H4364," being full H4392 of the fury H2534 and rebuke H1606 of the LORD H3068 Isaiah 51:20. In Psalms, the word illustrates retributive justice, with the psalmist praying, "Let the wicked H7563 fall H5307 into their own nets H4364" Psalms 141:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context of being caught in a net:

H8377 tᵉʼôw (wild bull): This term is used to create the powerful simile of a strong creature rendered helpless in a net H4364 Isaiah 51:20.
H7563 râshâʻ (wicked): The net is presented as a trap that the wicked set but fall into themselves, highlighting a theme of justice Psalms 141:10.
H5307 nâphal (to fall): This word describes the action of being ensnared, as the wicked are destined to fall into their own traps Psalms 141:10.
H1606 gᵉʻârâh (rebuke): The state of being trapped in the net is a direct result of divine judgment, specifically the rebuke of God H430 Isaiah 51:20.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4364 is centered on its use as a powerful metaphor for judgment and consequence.

Helpless Entrapment: The image of a wild bull H8377 caught in a net H4364 vividly portrays a state of utter helplessness and exhaustion, brought about by the fury H2534 of the LORD H3068 Isaiah 51:20.
Retributive Justice: In Psalms, the net symbolizes the self-destructive nature of evil. The prayer is that the wicked H7563 will be caught in the very traps they prepared for others Psalms 141:10.
Instrument of Divine Judgment: The net functions as a symbol of divine discipline. The entrapment of the sons of Jerusalem is not a random misfortune but is directly linked to the rebuke H1606 of God H430, showing that this condition is a consequence of His judgment Isaiah 51:20.

Summary

In summary, makmâr H4364 is more than just a hunter's tool. In Scripture, this net becomes a potent symbol of inescapable situations. It illustrates both the helplessness of those under divine rebuke H1606 and the principle of retributive justice, where the wicked H7563 are ensnared by their own schemes. Though used only twice, its imagery powerfully conveys themes of judgment and consequence.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מַכְמֹרָי
מִכְמָר

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.