### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mâʻak**, represented by `{{H4600}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to press, i.e. to pierce, emasculate, handle; bruised, stuck, be pressed**. It is a rare term, appearing only **3 times** in **3 unique verses**. Despite its infrequent use, it conveys a range of meanings from physical force and damage to potent spiritual metaphors.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The applications of `{{H4600}}` vary significantly across its three appearances. In a legal context concerning sacrifices, an animal that is **bruised** `{{H4600}}` is considered unacceptable to be offered to the LORD [[Leviticus 22:24]]. In a historical narrative, the word takes on a literal meaning, describing King Saul's spear as **stuck** `{{H4600}}` in the ground while he slept [[1 Samuel 26:7]]. Finally, it is used figuratively in prophecy, where the breasts of the allegorical sisters representing Israel and Judah were **pressed** `{{H4600}}` in their youth as a symbol of their early spiritual unfaithfulness in Egypt [[Ezekiel 23:3]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words found in proximity to `{{H4600}}` help clarify its meaning, particularly in the context of physical state and metaphorical action:
* `{{H3807}}` **kâthath** (to bruise or violently strike): Paired with `{{H4600}}` in [[Leviticus 22:24]] to describe a **crushed** animal, reinforcing the idea of damage from force.
* `{{H5423}}` **nâthaq** (to tear off): Also from [[Leviticus 22:24]], it appears as **broken** and adds to the list of disqualifying blemishes for an offering.
* `{{H3772}}` **kârath** (to cut): The verse [[Leviticus 22:24]] also uses this term for **cut**, completing a set of words that denote physical imperfection.
* `{{H2181}}` **zânâh** (to commit adultery): The use of `{{H4600}}` in [[Ezekiel 23:3]] is contextually defined by its link to this word, which appears twice in the verse as "committed **whoredoms**," framing the physical "pressing" as a metaphor for idolatry.
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H4600}}` is primarily seen in its figurative and legal applications.
* **Unfit for Offering:** Its use in [[Leviticus 22:24]] establishes a clear principle: that which is **bruised** or damaged is not acceptable for holy use. This highlights a standard of wholeness and perfection in offerings made to the LORD.
* **Symbol of Defilement:** In [[Ezekiel 23:3]], the act of being **pressed** is part of a graphic metaphor for Israel's idolatry, which the text describes as committing "whoredoms." The physical action symbolizes a corrupting spiritual influence from the nation's youth.
* **Literal Application:** The account in [[1 Samuel 26:7]], where Saul's spear is **stuck** in the ground, provides a simple, non-theological baseline for the word's meaning as physical pressure or fixture, against which the metaphorical uses can be understood.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4600}}` is a specific and impactful word. While it can describe a simple physical state, as with a spear **stuck** in the ground [[1 Samuel 26:7]], its more significant uses are theological. It defines a state of being **bruised** that renders a sacrifice invalid [[Leviticus 22:24]] and serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual defilement of idolatry [[Ezekiel 23:3]]. Through these few instances, **mâʻak** illustrates how an act of physical pressure can symbolize concepts of imperfection and sin.
TRV