The Hebrew word malqôwach, represented by H4455, describes that which is taken, whether as prey and booty from conflict, or the jaws which take food. It is derived from the root H3947, meaning "to take." Appearing 8 times in 8 unique verses, its meaning shifts between the spoils of war and a vivid anatomical metaphor for suffering.
In its primary context, H4455 refers to the spoils of military campaigns. The book of Numbers, for instance, details the gathering and administration of war plunder. The Israelites are commanded to take "all the spoil, and all the prey" Numbers 31:11 and later to "divide the prey into two parts" between the soldiers and the congregation Numbers 31:27. In a prophetic sense, Isaiah uses the term to question whether prey can be taken from a mighty warrior Isaiah 49:24, a metaphor for the captive state of God's people. A distinct physical meaning appears in Psalms, where the psalmist in his anguish cries, "my tongue cleaveth to my jaws" Psalms 22:15.
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H4455 is found:
- H3947 lâqach (to take): As the root of H4455, this verb is foundational to its meaning. In Isaiah's prophecy, the LORD promises that captives of the mighty shall be taken away Isaiah 49:25.
- H7628 shᵉbîy (captives): This word for captives or prisoners is often used in conjunction with H4455, highlighting that the "prey" included human beings Numbers 31:12.
- H7998 shâlâl (booty): This term frequently appears alongside H4455 as a near synonym for the material plunder acquired in battle Numbers 31:11.
- H1368 gibbôwr (mighty): This word for a powerful warrior is the one from whom the prey H4455 is taken, setting up a contrast between human strength and divine power to deliver Isaiah 49:24.
The theological weight of H4455 is demonstrated through its application in contexts of judgment and salvation.
- Spoils of Divine Judgment: In Numbers 31, the acquisition of prey is not simply an outcome of human victory but part of a divinely sanctioned action. The subsequent command to divide the prey Numbers 31:27 places the spoils under God's ordinance.
- Metaphor of Divine Deliverance: Isaiah employs the imagery of prey to illustrate God's power to rescue. The rhetorical question of whether prey can be liberated from the mighty Isaiah 49:24 is answered with a resounding yes, as God promises, "I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children" Isaiah 49:25.
- Image of Intense Suffering: The use of H4455 for jaws in Psalms 22:15 provides a visceral image of personal agony and nearness to death. It connects the physical body to a state of being seized and overcome.
In summary, H4455 carries a dual significance that moves from the literal to the theological. It denotes the tangible results of conflict—the prey, booty, and captives taken in war—while also functioning as a powerful metaphor. Whether describing the spoils of a battle under God's command, the jaws of one suffering near death, or the seemingly hopeless state from which God promises deliverance, malqôwach consistently points to that which is seized or taken.
TRV