### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mâʻôwg**, represented by `{{H4580}}`, has a dual definition as a **cake** of bread or a **feast**. It is a rare term, appearing only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Its meaning shifts dramatically depending on the context, from a simple food item to a gathering of mockers.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two uses of `{{H4580}}` illustrate its distinct meanings. In [[1 Kings 17:12]], it refers to a literal **cake** of bread. A widow explains that she does not have a **cake**, but only enough meal and oil to make a final one for her and her son before they expect to die. In contrast, [[Psalms 35:16]] uses the word to mean **feasts**, describing "hypocritical mockers in **feasts**" who show contempt for the psalmist by gnashing their teeth.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the contexts of `{{H4580}}`:
* `{{H7058}}` **qemach** (flour, meal): This is the primary ingredient for the **cake** in [[1 Kings 17:12]], where the widow has only a handful of **meal**.
* `{{H3934}}` **lâʻêg** (a buffoon; mocker): This word is used in direct conjunction with `{{H4580}}` in [[Psalms 35:16]] to describe the "hypocritical **mockers** in feasts," defining the hostile nature of the gathering.
* `{{H2786}}` **châraq** (to grate the teeth; gnash): This action is performed by the mockers at the feast in [[Psalms 35:16]], where they **gnashed** upon the speaker with their teeth, illustrating intense animosity.
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H4580}}` lies in its contrasting applications:
* **Basic Sustenance:** In its first usage, the **cake** represents the most basic form of physical life and survival. The narrative in [[1 Kings 17:12]] centers on this last piece of food as a test of faith and the catalyst for divine provision.
* **Corrupt Fellowship:** In its second usage, the **feast** is not a place of community but of scorn. It highlights how social gatherings can be perverted into settings for malicious contempt and mockery [[Psalms 35:16]].
* **Scarcity and Abundance:** The word is connected to both extreme lack, as with the widow's handful of **meal** `{{H7058}}`, and to a setting of a feast, even if a hostile one. This shows a spectrum from near-starvation to social gathering.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4580}}` is a term with a sharp duality of meaning. It can signify a humble **cake**, the very object of survival in a moment of dire need [[1 Kings 17:12]]. At the same time, it can refer to **feasts** that are settings for hostility and derision [[Psalms 35:16]]. Through its two appearances, **mâʻôwg** demonstrates how a single word can encompass both the simplicity of life-sustaining food and the complexity of corrupt human interaction.
TRV