The Hebrew word mâʻôṭ, represented by H4593, is defined as “thinned (as to the edge), i.e. sharp; wrapped up.” It is a highly specific term that appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, marking its usage as uniquely tied to its sole context.
The single appearance of mâʻôṭ is found in a prophecy of judgment in Ezekiel 21:15. Here, God declares that He has set the “point of the sword against all their gates” to cause terror and multiply ruin. The verse concludes with a description of this sword: “ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.” The term is used to describe the state of readiness of the divine weapon of judgment, which is sharpened, polished, and prepared for its grim purpose.
The theological weight of mâʻôṭ is concentrated entirely within its single use, emphasizing themes of divine judgment.
- Meticulous Preparation for Judgment: The description of the sword as both “bright” H1300 and “wrapped up” H4593 indicates a state of complete readiness. It is not a spontaneous or haphazard punishment, but a deliberate and prepared action.
- The Certainty of Divine Wrath: The sword is set against the people's gates to make their heart “faint” H4127 and to multiply their “ruins” H4383. The use of mâʻôṭ contributes to the sense of an unavoidable, sealed fate, as the instrument of judgment is readied for its task Ezekiel 21:15.
- Instrument of Slaughter: The word is directly linked to the purpose of “slaughter” H2874. Being “wrapped up” can imply that the sword is sharpened and sheathed, ready to be drawn for its specific, deadly function as an agent of God's verdict.
In summary, mâʻôṭ is a rare biblical term whose meaning is inseparable from its singular context in Ezekiel 21:15. As mâʻôṭ, it describes the Lord's sword of judgment as being “wrapped up,” or prepared, for slaughter. Paired with the imagery of a bright, glittering blade, it conveys a powerful message of a divine judgment that is deliberate, certain, and terrifyingly ready to be executed.
