from מָלַח in its original sense; a rag or old garment; rotten rag.
Transliteration:mâlâch
Pronunciation:maw-lawkh'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H4418}}` (mâlâch) is a noun derived from the root `{{H4417}}` (mālach), which primarily signifies "to salt" or "to season." However, the root also carries a secondary sense of "to dissolve," "to vanish," or "to become rotten," particularly in the context of decay or disintegration. Consequently, `{{H4418}}` specifically denotes a "rag" or "old garment" that is characterized by its state of decay, wear, or uselessness. The accompanying definition "rotten rag" precisely captures this deteriorated condition, emphasizing its lack of integrity and functional utility. The semantic range of `{{H4418}}` is quite narrow, focusing on the material state of an object that has lost its original purpose and has undergone a process of decomposition or extreme degradation, signifying worthlessness or extreme disrepair.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H4418}}` appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, found in the book of Jeremiah, specifically in the account of Jeremiah's rescue from the cistern.
* [[Jeremiah 38:11]]: "So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king, to a place beneath the treasury, and took from there *old rags* and worn-out clothes, and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah."
* [[Jeremiah 38:12]]: "Then Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, 'Please put these *old rags* and worn-out clothes under your armpits, under the ropes.' Jeremiah did so."
In this unique context, `{{H4418}}` is paired with "worn-out clothes" (בְּלוֹאִים, bᵉlō'îm, likely related to `{{H1088}}`), reinforcing the sense of extreme degradation. These items are retrieved from a storage area "beneath the treasury," suggesting a place for discarded or unwanted materials. Their purpose is not for clothing, but for padding: Ebed-Melech, in an act of compassion and resourcefulness, uses these decayed and discarded materials to protect Jeremiah's armpits from the cutting ropes as he is pulled from the muddy cistern. This highlights their pliable and soft, yet ultimately useless-as-garments, nature. The context vividly underscores the prophet's dire circumstances and the unconventional means by which deliverance is achieved, transforming objects of utter decay into instruments of mercy.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H4417}}` (mālach):** The root from which `{{H4418}}` is derived. While its primary meaning is "to salt" or "to season," it also carries the sense of "to dissolve" or "to become rotten." This secondary meaning directly informs the definition of `{{H4418}}` as a "rotten rag," emphasizing the process of decay and deterioration.
* **`{{H1088}}` (bᵉlō'îm):** This term, often translated as "worn-out clothes" or "old garments," appears alongside `{{H4418}}` in [[Jeremiah 38:11]] and [[Jeremiah 38:12]]. While `{{H1088}}` denotes garments that are simply old and worn, `{{H4418}}` specifically adds the dimension of "rottenness" or advanced decay, suggesting an even greater state of disrepair and uselessness. The combination emphasizes the extreme degradation of the materials used.
* **Figurative Language of Decay and Worthlessness:** The concept of something becoming useless, decayed, or fit only for discarding is a recurring motif in biblical literature, often used to describe spiritual decline, moral corruption, or the transience of human endeavors. Examples include the "moth-eaten garment" as a metaphor for human weakness or the perishable nature of idols ([[Isaiah 50:9]], [[Isaiah 51:8]]). `{{H4418}}` provides a concrete, visceral image of such decay.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of `{{H4418}}` in the narrative of Jeremiah's rescue offers a profound, albeit subtle, theological insight. Jeremiah, God's faithful prophet, finds himself in a miry pit, a potent symbol of deep distress, abandonment, and the seemingly insurmountable challenges faced by those who proclaim God's truth. His deliverance is orchestrated not through grand or pristine means, but through the most humble and decayed of objects: "rotten rags."
This can be interpreted as a powerful illustration of divine providence and the unexpected ways in which God works. Just as the Lord often chooses the humble and despised things of the world to accomplish His purposes ([[1 Corinthians 1:27-29]]), so too does He facilitate Jeremiah's rescue through the seemingly worthless. Ebed-Melech's compassionate act, utilizing these contemptible materials, underscores that God's deliverance is not limited by human resources or conventional wisdom. It highlights that divine aid can manifest through the most unlikely of instruments, emphasizing God's power and grace over human strength or dignity. The very decay of the rags, which makes them soft and pliable, paradoxically renders them suitable for a life-saving purpose, suggesting that even in states of degradation, an unexpected utility can be found through divine orchestration. This narrative serves as a poignant reminder of human vulnerability and absolute dependence on God's mercy, a mercy that often comes through means that defy human expectation.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H4418}}` (mâlâch) precisely denotes a "rotten rag" or a severely decayed piece of cloth, deriving its meaning from the root `{{H4417}}`, which can imply decay or dissolution. Its singular biblical appearance in [[Jeremiah 38:11]] and [[Jeremiah 38:12]] is highly illustrative. In this passage, Ebed-Melech uses these discarded, decayed garments, alongside "worn-out clothes" (`{{H1088}}`), to cushion Jeremiah as he is pulled from a muddy cistern. The term highlights extreme deterioration and worthlessness in its primary function as clothing. Theologically, its use in Jeremiah's rescue subtly underscores divine providence, demonstrating how God can utilize the most humble, discarded, or seemingly useless objects to accomplish His purposes and provide deliverance, emphasizing reliance on His unconventional methods rather than human grandeur or strength. The "rotten rag" thus becomes a poignant symbol of unexpected utility in a moment of dire need.