from עוּג; also with לָעֵג a table-buffoon, i.e.; a cake of bread; parasite; cake, feast.
Transliteration:mâʻôwg
Pronunciation:maw-ogue'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H4580}}` (mâʻôwg), transliterated as *mâʻôwg*, presents a fascinating dual semantic range, stemming from its connection to the verbal root `{{H5749}}` (ʿûg), meaning "to bake." Primarily, `{{H4580}}` refers to a "cake of bread" or a "loaf," denoting a baked food item, often small or simple. This meaning emphasizes basic sustenance and provision.
However, `{{H4580}}` also carries a distinct meaning related to a "feast" or "banquet." This secondary sense is particularly evident when the word appears in the construct phrase לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג (laʿăgê mâʿôg), which translates to "mockers of a feast" or "scoffers at a banquet." In this context, `{{H4580}}` signifies the social gathering itself, a setting for consumption and celebration, which can also become a venue for derision and malice. Thus, `{{H4580}}` encapsulates both a fundamental food item and the social occasion where such food is consumed, highlighting the diverse facets of human experience from basic need to social interaction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H4580}}` appears in the Masoretic Text in two distinct contexts, each illuminating one aspect of its dual meaning:
1. **[[1 Samuel 2:36]]**: "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a `{{H4580}}` of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread."
* In this prophetic judgment against the house of Eli, `{{H4580}}` is translated as "a piece of bread" or "a loaf of bread." The context underscores extreme destitution and degradation. The descendants of Eli, once privileged priests who partook of the choicest offerings, will be reduced to begging for a mere `{{H4580}}` of bread, a basic and meager provision. This highlights the severity of divine judgment, stripping away status and abundance, leaving only a desperate plea for fundamental sustenance. The phrase "a `{{H4580}}` of bread" emphasizes the smallness and commonness of the item, contrasting sharply with the former priestly portions.
2. **[[Psalm 35:16]]**: "With hypocritical mockers at feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth."
* Here, `{{H4580}}` appears in the phrase לַעֲגֵי מָעוֹג (laʿăgê mâʿôg). לַעֲגֵי is the construct plural of `{{H3932}}` (lāʿēg), meaning "mocker" or "scoffer." Therefore, the phrase is best understood as "mockers of a feast" or "scoffers at a banquet." The psalmist, David, laments the malicious behavior of his adversaries, who exploit social gatherings—feasts—to publicly ridicule and attack him. These are not merely casual jesters but "hypocritical" or "godless" mockers, whose derision is aggressive ("gnashed upon me with their teeth") and deeply hurtful. In this instance, `{{H4580}}` denotes the setting of the mockery, a social gathering that should be a place of fellowship but is instead corrupted by malicious scorn.
### Related Words & Concepts
The dual nature of `{{H4580}}` connects it to several related lexical and conceptual fields:
* **For "cake/loaf":**
* `{{H5749}}` (ʿûg): The verbal root "to bake," directly linking `{{H4580}}` to the act of preparing food.
* `{{H3899}}` (leḥem): The generic and most common Hebrew word for "bread" or "food." `{{H4580}}` represents a specific form or portion of this broader category.
* `{{H2471}}` (ḥallāh): Another term for a "cake," often used for unleavened cakes or those offered in sacrifice.
* Concepts: Sustenance, provision, hunger, basic needs, scarcity, divine judgment (in the context of withholding provision).
* **For "feast/banquet" and "mockers":**
* `{{H3933}}` (lāʿag): The verbal root "to mock" or "to scoff," from which `{{H3932}}` (lāʿēg - mocker) is derived. This root is central to understanding the "mockers of a feast" phrase.
* `{{H4960}}` (mišteh): A common word for "feast" or "drinking party," indicating a social gathering with food and drink.
* `{{H6706}}` (ṣārāh): "Adversary" or "enemy," reflecting the nature of those who mock the righteous.
* Concepts: Derision, scorn, malice, social parasitism, godlessness, public humiliation, suffering of the righteous, social gatherings.
### Theological Significance
The two occurrences of `{{H4580}}` offer poignant theological insights:
1. **Divine Judgment and Provision ([[1 Samuel 2:36]])**: The reduction of Eli's descendants to begging for a mere `{{H4580}}` underscores the severity and precision of God's judgment. It highlights that even the most basic necessities of life, like a piece of bread, are ultimately dependent on divine favor and obedience. When covenantal faithfulness is broken, God can withdraw even the most fundamental provisions, leading to profound humiliation and spiritual degradation. This passage serves as a stark reminder that true security and sustenance come from adherence to God's will, not from inherited privilege or worldly status.
2. **The Nature of Unrighteousness and Suffering ([[Psalm 35:16]])**: The "mockers of a feast" represent a particularly insidious form of ungodliness. Their malice is not merely passive but active and public, exploiting social occasions for cruel derision. This illustrates the suffering of the righteous at the hands of the wicked, who delight in scorn and opposition. The psalmist's lament reflects the deep pain inflicted by such verbal and social abuse, appealing to God for justice against those who "gnash their teeth." Theologically, this highlights the reality of spiritual warfare, where the righteous often endure contempt from those who reject God's ways, and it anticipates God's ultimate vindication of His faithful servants against their scornful adversaries.
In both contexts, `{{H4580}}`, despite its seemingly mundane referents (a cake, a feast), points to profound theological truths concerning divine justice, human dependence, the consequences of sin, and the nature of both righteous suffering and ungodly malice.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H4580}}` (mâʻôwg) possesses a unique dual semantic range, appearing in the biblical text with two distinct meanings. In [[1 Samuel 2:36]], it refers to a "cake of bread" or "loaf," symbolizing extreme destitution and the withdrawal of divine provision as a consequence of unfaithfulness. The descendants of Eli are prophesied to beg for this basic `{{H4580}}`, illustrating the depth of their fall from priestly privilege. In contrast, [[Psalm 35:16]] employs `{{H4580}}` within the phrase "mockers of a feast," where it denotes a "feast" or "banquet." Here, the word highlights the malicious and parasitic nature of adversaries who exploit social gatherings to publicly deride the righteous. Thus, `{{H4580}}` encompasses both the most fundamental human need for sustenance and the complex dynamics of social interaction, revealing profound theological insights into divine judgment, the nature of human sin, and the suffering of the righteous.
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