The Hebrew word mâç, represented by H4523, is defined as fainting, figuratively disconsolate, or being afflicted. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, which makes its single usage highly significant.
The sole appearance of H4523 is in Job 6:14, where Job expresses his deep anguish and the failure of his friends. The verse states, "To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty." Here, mâç describes Job's own desperate, fainting condition. The word frames a powerful contrast between the expected compassion from a friend and the friend's actual response, which Job likens to forsaking reverence for God.
The context of Job 6:14 links H4523 to several crucial concepts that define the verse's meaning:
- H2617 chêçêd (pity): This word represents the kindness, mercy, and loving-kindness that should be shown to one who is afflicted. It is a foundational characteristic of God, who is described as "abundant in goodness H2617 and truth" Exodus 34:6.
- H7453 rêaʻ (friend): This term for an associate or companion is central to the passage, as it identifies the person from whom chêçêd is expected. The ideal is a friend who sharpens another, as seen in the proverb, "a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" Proverbs 27:17.
- H5800 ʻâzab (forsaketh): This word denotes the act of relinquishing, leaving, or forsaking. In Job 6:14, it describes the friend's failure, which stands in stark contrast to God's promise to His people: "he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" Deuteronomy 31:6.
The theological weight of H4523 is derived entirely from its singular, powerful context in the book of Job.
- The Cry of the Afflicted: The term gives voice to the profound despair and disconsolate state of one undergoing immense suffering, a central theme of Job's narrative.
- The Duty of Compassion: Its use in Job 6:14 establishes a clear moral expectation: the correct response to affliction H4523 is pity H2617. The failure to provide this is presented as a significant spiritual and relational failing.
- Faithfulness in Suffering: The verse connects the human response to affliction directly with one's relationship to God. The act of a friend forsaking the afflicted is equated with forsaking the fear H3374 of the Almighty H7706, highlighting how human relationships can be a test of divine reverence.
In summary, while mâç H4523 appears only once, its placement in scripture is pivotal. It precisely defines the state of the disconsolate sufferer and serves as the fulcrum for a profound statement on friendship, compassion, and faithfulness to God in the midst of trial. The word's singular context in Job 6:14 demonstrates how even the rarest biblical term can illuminate core theological truths about human suffering and moral responsibility.
TRV