a primitive root; to be smooth, i.e. (figuratively) pleasant; be sweet.
Transliteration:mâlats
Pronunciation:maw-lats'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H4452}}` *mâlats* is a primitive root carrying the fundamental sense of "to be smooth." From this physical attribute, its semantic range extends figuratively to "pleasant" or "sweet." This implies an agreeable quality, something delightful to the senses or to the mind. The smoothness suggests an absence of harshness or roughness, leading naturally to ideas of ease, agreeableness, and even eloquence. It denotes a quality that is inherently pleasing or that makes something pleasing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root `{{H4452}}` *mâlats* appears only twice in the Masoretic Text, yet each occurrence is significant:
* **[[Psalm 119:103]]**: "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (כמה נמלצו לפי אמרתך ממתק לדבש לפי). Here, the verb appears in the Niphal stem (נמלצו), indicating a passive or reflexive sense: "are made sweet" or "are pleasant/delightful." The context is the psalmist's profound love and appreciation for God's words (*'emer* `{{H561}}`). The comparison to honey emphasizes not only the delightful taste but also the nourishing and satisfying quality of divine revelation. It speaks to an experiential, internal delight derived from engaging with God's truth, suggesting that His words are intrinsically agreeable and life-giving to the soul.
* **[[Proverbs 23:8]]**: "The morsel that you have eaten you will vomit up, and waste your pleasant words." (כי פתך אכלת תקיאנה ושחת דבריך הנעימים). In this proverb, *mâlats* appears as a Hiphil participle (הנעימים), meaning "those which cause to be pleasant" or "those which are made pleasant," hence "pleasant words" or "eloquent words." The verse warns against dining with a stingy or envious person. The "pleasant words" (*dābhār* `{{H1697}}`) refer to the polite, perhaps even flattering or eloquent, conversation exchanged during such a meal. The proverb suggests that the inherent unpleasantness of the host will render even the most agreeable words wasted or meaningless, as the entire experience will be tainted and ultimately regretted. This highlights how context and the character of the participants can nullify the intended pleasantness of communication.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Words of Sweetness/Pleasantness:**
* `{{H4966}}` *māthōq*: "sweet," often used in conjunction with honey or pleasant things.
* `{{H5273}}` *nō'am*: "pleasantness," "beauty," "delight," often associated with God's favor or beauty.
* `{{H6149}}` *arev*: "pleasant," "agreeable," "sweet," often in a general sense of something pleasing.
* **Words for Speech/Words:**
* `{{H1697}}` *dābhār*: "word," "matter," "thing," the most common term for spoken or written communication.
* `{{H561}}` *'emer*: "word," "saying," often used in poetic contexts, as in [[Psalm 119:103]].
* `{{H6310}}` *peh*: "mouth," often a metonymy for speech or utterance.
* **Concepts:** The delight in divine revelation, the wisdom of discerning context in human interaction, the power and fragility of words.
### Theological Significance
The rare occurrences of `{{H4452}}` *mâlats* offer profound theological insights. The use in [[Psalm 119:103]] is particularly significant, elevating the divine word to a source of ultimate spiritual delight and nourishment. God's words are not merely directives but are intrinsically "sweet" to the soul, surpassing even the most cherished physical pleasures like honey. This underscores the experiential joy and satisfaction found in meditating upon and obeying God's statutes, aligning with the broader biblical theme of God's law as life-giving and a source of true blessedness.
Conversely, [[Proverbs 23:8]] provides a crucial counterpoint regarding human speech. It illustrates that even "pleasant words" can be rendered utterly meaningless or even harmful when spoken in an ungracious or malevolent context. This highlights the ethical dimension of communication and the importance of wisdom, not just in *what* is said, but *when*, *where*, and *to whom*. It subtly teaches that true pleasantness in human interaction requires a foundation of integrity and generosity, without which even the most eloquent words become void. Together, these two verses contrast the inherent, enduring pleasantness of God's truth with the conditional and often fleeting nature of human communication, dependent on the character and context of the speaker and listener.
### Summary
The Hebrew root {{H4452}}` *mâlats* signifies "to be smooth," extending figuratively to "pleasant" or "sweet." Its two biblical occurrences yield rich theological meaning. In [[Psalm 119:103]], it describes the profound, soul-satisfying "sweetness" of God's words, portraying divine revelation as an experiential delight more precious and nourishing than physical sustenance. This highlights the inherent, life-giving pleasantness of divine truth. In contrast, [[Proverbs 23:8]] applies *mâlats* to human "pleasant words" that are utterly wasted or rendered ineffective due to an ungracious or hostile context. This underscores the critical role of character and context in the efficacy of human communication. Collectively, these uses illuminate the enduring and intrinsically delightful nature of God's word versus the conditional and often fragile pleasantness of human speech.
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