from an unused root meaning to alienate; a mongrel, i.e. born of aJewish father and aheathen mother; bastard.
Transliteration:mamzêr
Pronunciation:mam-zare'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H4464}}` (מַמְזֵר, *mamzêr*) derives from an unused root meaning "to alienate" or "to separate." This etymological root provides crucial insight into its primary semantic range, which denotes a state of separation or exclusion. In its concrete application within biblical law and prophecy, `{{H4464}}` refers to an individual born of a forbidden union, specifically understood as the offspring of an Israelite father and a heathen (non-Israelite) mother. The common English translation "bastard" captures the illegitimacy, but the Hebrew term carries a more precise and severe connotation related to the integrity of the covenant community and the purity of lineage. It signifies not merely an illegitimate birth in a general sense, but one that violates the divinely ordained boundaries of Israelite identity and communal holiness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H4464}}` appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, each instance offering a distinct yet complementary perspective on its meaning and significance:
1. **Deuteronomy 23:2 (MT 23:3):** "A `{{H4464}}` shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the assembly of the Lord."
This passage presents a legal proscription within the Mosaic Law concerning who may enter "the assembly of the Lord" (קְהַל יְהוָה, *qehal Yahweh*). The exclusion of the `{{H4464}}` is absolute and perpetual ("even to his tenth generation"), signifying a complete and lasting separation from the full rights and privileges of the covenant community. This prohibition underscores the profound importance of maintaining the purity of Israelite lineage and identity, particularly in relation to intermarriage with foreign nations, which was consistently forbidden (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 7:3-4]], [[Exodus 34:16]]). The presence of a `{{H4464}}` was seen as a breach of the covenant's stipulations regarding holiness and separation, impacting not just the individual but the corporate identity of the nation.
2. **Zechariah 9:6:** "And a `{{H4464}}` shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines."
In this prophetic context, `{{H4464}}` is used to describe the future state of Ashdod, one of the primary Philistine cities, under divine judgment. Here, the term likely functions symbolically or literally to denote a mixed, degraded, or impure population that will inhabit the city. It could refer to a population of mixed ethnic or religious heritage, possibly resulting from conquest and assimilation, signifying the loss of the Philistines' distinct national identity and pride. The presence of the `{{H4464}}` in Ashdod contrasts sharply with its exclusion from Israel's assembly, highlighting God's sovereign judgment upon the nations and the consequences of their defiance, leading to a state of spiritual and communal impurity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of `{{H4464}}` is intrinsically linked to several key biblical themes and terms:
* **Purity Laws (טהרה, *ṭahorah*):** The exclusion of the `{{H4464}}` is a prime example of the extensive purity laws that governed Israelite life, emphasizing separation from defilement and adherence to God's standards of holiness.
* **Assembly of the Lord (קְהַל יְהוָה, *qehal Yahweh*):** This phrase refers to the corporate body of Israel as God's covenant people. The prohibitions in Deuteronomy 23 define the boundaries of this sacred community, emphasizing who is permitted full participation.
* **Forbidden Marriages (חתן, *ḥatan* - to intermarry):** The `{{H4464}}` is a direct consequence of violating the prohibitions against intermarriage with foreign nations, which were seen as a threat to Israel's spiritual fidelity and distinctiveness (e.g., [[Nehemiah 13:23-27]], [[Ezra 9:1-2]]).
* **Lineage and Seed (זרע, *zera'*):** The emphasis on "tenth generation" highlights the importance of pure lineage in Israelite identity and the perpetuation of the covenant. The `{{H4464}}` represents a disruption of this divinely ordered continuity.
* **Strangers/Foreigners (גר, *ger*; נכר, *nekar*; זר, *zar*):** While the Bible distinguishes between various categories of non-Israelites (e.g., resident aliens vs. foreign enemies), the `{{H4464}}` occupies a unique and severe status due to the specific nature of their parentage and the violation it represents.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4464}}` is profound, touching upon core tenets of Israelite theology:
* **Holiness and Separation:** The existence and exclusion of the `{{H4464}}` underscore God's command for Israel to be a holy and separate people (e.g., [[Leviticus 11:44-45]], [[Deuteronomy 7:6]]). The `{{H4464}}` represents a breach of this divinely mandated separation, a blurring of the lines between Israel and the nations.
* **Covenant Integrity:** The prohibition against the `{{H4464}}` entering the assembly of the Lord serves to protect the integrity and distinctiveness of the covenant community. It emphasizes that membership in God's people is not merely a matter of birth but also adherence to divine statutes regarding purity and faithfulness. The purity of the community was seen as essential for maintaining God's presence among them.
* **Consequences of Disobedience:** The perpetual exclusion of the `{{H4464}}` serves as a stark reminder of the long-term, intergenerational consequences of disobedience to God's commands, particularly regarding the sanctity of marriage and the preservation of Israel's unique identity.
* **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty:** In Zechariah, the application of `{{H4464}}` to Ashdod demonstrates God's sovereignty over the nations and His capacity to bring about their degradation and loss of identity as a form of judgment. It contrasts the strict boundaries for Israel's assembly with the dissolution of national identity among those who oppose God.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H4464}}` (מַמְזֵר, *mamzêr*) denotes an individual born of a forbidden union between an Israelite father and a heathen mother, signifying a "mongrel" or "bastard" in a specific theological and legal sense. Its core meaning stems from a root implying alienation or separation. Biblically, `{{H4464}}` appears in two pivotal contexts: in [[Deuteronomy 23:2]], it mandates perpetual exclusion from the assembly of the Lord, emphasizing the sanctity of Israelite lineage and the covenant community's purity. In [[Zechariah 9:6]], it prophetically describes the degraded state of Ashdod, symbolizing the loss of national identity under divine judgment. The term thus highlights the critical importance of holiness, covenant integrity, and the enduring consequences of disobedience within the biblical narrative.
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