from נוּס; a retreat (literally or figuratively); abstractly, a fleeing; [idiom] apace, escape, way to flee, flight, refuge.
Transliteration:mânôwç
Pronunciation:maw-noce'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H4498}}` (מָנוֹס - mânôwç) is derived from the verbal root `{{H5127}}` (נוּס - nûs), meaning "to flee," "to escape," or "to take flight." Consequently, mânôwç carries a semantic range that encompasses the act of fleeing, the means of escape, or a place of refuge. Its core meaning revolves around the concept of withdrawal from danger or pursuit. The various nuances include:
* **Flight/Fleeing:** The active process of running away, often under duress or from a threatening situation.
* **Escape:** The successful outcome of extricating oneself from peril, confinement, or an undesirable circumstance.
* **Refuge:** A place or state that offers safety, protection, or shelter from danger, distress, or persecution. This can be understood literally as a physical sanctuary or figuratively as a source of ultimate security.
* **Retreat:** A strategic or desperate withdrawal.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H4498}}` appears in various contexts across the Old Testament, frequently highlighting themes of danger, judgment, and the desperate human search for security.
In [[Psalm 142:4]], the psalmist laments, "I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul." Here, mânôwç clearly signifies a desperate lack of a secure place or helper, emphasizing profound isolation and vulnerability.
The prophetic books often use mânôwç to underscore the inescapability of divine judgment. [[Amos 2:16]] declares concerning Moab, "And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD." This portrays a scenario where even the strongest will find no mânôwç from God's wrath, illustrating the futility of human strength against divine decree. Similarly, [[Jeremiah 48:44]] states, "He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD." The repeated acts of fleeing and being caught demonstrate that for those facing God's judgment, there is no true mânôwç.
In [[Job 11:20]], Zophar asserts concerning the wicked, "But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not have refuge, and their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost." The absence of mânôwç for the wicked signifies their ultimate despair and lack of deliverance from the consequences of their actions.
A particularly insightful use is found in [[Isaiah 28:15]], where the leaders of Jerusalem boast, "Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves." Here, mânôwç is used ironically; the people believe their deceit and political maneuvering provide a secure mânôwç, but it is a false and ultimately destructive one.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related term is the verbal root `{{H5127}}` (נוּס - nûs), "to flee," from which mânôwç is directly derived. This connection highlights the dynamic action inherent in the noun.
Other related terms that convey similar concepts of safety or escape include:
* `{{H4268}}` (מַחְסֶה - maḥseh): "Refuge, shelter." This word is frequently used to describe God as a secure dwelling place or protection.
* `{{H6438}}` (פְּלֵיטָה - peleytah) and `{{H6413}}` (פְּלֵטָה - peletah): "Escape, deliverance, remnant." These terms often refer to the outcome of a successful escape or the survivors of a calamity.
* The concept of "Cities of Refuge" (e.g., [[Numbers 35:9-34]]) is thematically linked, as these cities provided a literal mânôwç for those who had accidentally committed manslaughter. While mânôwç is not the specific term used for the cities themselves, the function they served is directly related to the idea of a place of escape and safety.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4498}}` (mânôwç) is multifaceted:
1. **Human Vulnerability and Desperation:** The frequent appearance of mânôwç in contexts of peril underscores the inherent vulnerability of humanity in a fallen world. Humans are often depicted as desperate for an escape or a place of safety from enemies, judgment, or overwhelming circumstances. This highlights the human condition's need for ultimate security.
2. **Futility of False Refuge:** As seen in [[Isaiah 28:15]], mânôwç can be sought in deceptive or inadequate sources (e.g., lies, human strength, political alliances). The biblical witness consistently demonstrates that such false refuges ultimately fail, leading to greater destruction when confronted with divine justice. This serves as a warning against misplaced trust.
3. **Divine Judgment and Inescapability:** A prominent theological theme associated with mânôwç is the absolute and inescapable nature of God's judgment upon the wicked. For those under divine wrath, there is often no mânôwç to be found ([[Amos 2:16]], [[Job 11:20]]). This emphasizes God's sovereignty, justice, and the inevitability of His righteous decrees.
4. **Implicit Call to True Refuge:** While mânôwç often describes the *lack* of escape for the wicked, its usage implicitly points to God as the only true and secure mânôwç for the righteous. When all human avenues of escape fail, the Lord remains the ultimate source of safety and deliverance. The psalmist's lament in [[Psalm 142:4]] about the failure of human mânôwç often precedes a turning to God as the sole hope, illustrating that God alone is the reliable refuge.
### Summary
`{{H4498}}` (מָנוֹס - mânôwç) is a Hebrew noun derived from the root `{{H5127}}` (נוּס - nûs), signifying "fleeing," "escape," or "refuge." Its semantic range encompasses the act of flight, the successful outcome of deliverance, and a place of safety. Biblically, mânôwç is frequently used in contexts of peril and divine judgment, emphasizing the desperate human need for security. It highlights the futility of seeking refuge in human schemes or falsehoods, which ultimately fail ([[Isaiah 28:15]]). More profoundly, the word underscores the inescapable nature of God's judgment for the unrighteous, for whom no mânôwç can be found ([[Amos 2:16]]). Implicitly, this points to the theological truth that only God Himself provides the ultimate and unfailing mânôwç for those who trust in Him, serving as the true and secure refuge when all other options fail ([[Psalm 142:4]]).
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