### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mammᵉgurâh**, represented by `{{H4460}}`, is a term for a **barn** or **granary**. Based on the concept of depositing goods, its single appearance in scripture marks a significant moment of agricultural collapse. It appears **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, highlighting a specific scene of desolation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{H4460}}` is found in a prophetic description of famine and judgment in [[Joel 1:17]]. In this verse, the **barns** are seen as **broken down** `{{H2040}}` because the harvest has failed. This imagery is part of a larger picture of devastation, where the seed is **rotten** `{{H5685}}`, the garners are **desolate** `{{H8074}}`, and the **corn** `{{H1715}}` has **withered** `{{H3001}}`. The destruction of the storage places underscores the severity of the crisis, as there is nothing left to store.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its biblical context illuminate the meaning of **mammᵉgurâh**:
* `{{H214}}` **ʼôwtsâr** (garner, storehouse): This word is used in parallel with **barns** in [[Joel 1:17]]. It refers to a depository or treasure house, often holding the tithes and blessings of the Lord [[Malachi 3:10]].
* `{{H1715}}` **dâgân** (corn, wheat): This is the grain that would fill a barn. Scripture often portrays **corn** as a sign of God's provision and blessing [[Genesis 27:28]], making its withering in [[Joel 1:17]] particularly stark.
* `{{H2040}}` **hâraç** (broken down, destroy): This verb, used to describe the fate of the barns, means to pull down or overthrow. It is frequently used to describe divine judgment, such as the throwing down of walls [[Jeremiah 50:15]] and the destruction of foundations [[Psalms 11:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4460}}` is tied to its singular, dramatic context. It illustrates key principles of God's relationship with His people.
* **Symbol of Provision:** A full barn or granary signifies God's blessing and the security that comes from a successful harvest. God promises to provide **corn** `{{H1715}}` and rain as a reward for obedience [[Deuteronomy 11:14]].
* **Indicator of Judgment:** The state of the **barns** `{{H4460}}` serves as a physical marker of the spiritual state of the nation. When they are **broken down** `{{H2040}}`, it is a tangible sign that divine favor has been removed and judgment is being enacted [[Joel 1:17]].
* **Consequence of Agricultural Failure:** The destruction of the barn is a logical and devastating consequence of a failed harvest. With the corn **withered** `{{H3001}}`, the structures built to store it fall into ruin, symbolizing a complete breakdown of the cycle of blessing.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H4460}}` appears only once, its meaning is powerful. It functions as more than just an agricultural structure; it is a symbol of stability and divine provision. Its destruction in [[Joel 1:17]] provides a vivid picture of national judgment, where the removal of God's blessing is so complete that the very infrastructure for storing it is rendered useless and broken.
TRV