### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **miphgâʻ**, represented by `{{H4645}}`, refers to an **object of attack** or a **mark**. It is a rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. This singular usage captures a powerful and personal sense of being singled out as a target.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H4645}}` is found in the midst of Job's lament. In his suffering, Job cries out to God, asking, "why hast thou set me as a **mark** against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?" [[Job 7:20]]. Here, the word powerfully illustrates Job's feeling of being deliberately targeted by God, positioned as an object for divine opposition, which in turn makes his existence a heavy weight to bear.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words in the surrounding text of [[Job 7:20]] give context to the meaning of being a **mark**:
* `{{H7760}}` **sûwm**: This root means to **put** or **set**. Job feels that God has deliberately **set** him in this position as a target [[Job 7:20]].
* `{{H2398}}` **châṭâʼ**: Meaning to **sin** or miss the mark. Job's cry begins with the confession, "I have **sinned**," linking his state as a target to his own perceived failure [[Job 7:20]].
* `{{H5341}}` **nâtsar**: This word means to guard or **preserve**. A deep tension is created when Job addresses God as the "**preserver** of men" while feeling like an object of attack [[Job 7:20]].
* `{{H4853}}` **massâʼ**: Defined as a **burden**. The consequence of being set as a `{{H4645}}` **mark** is that Job becomes a **burden** to himself, highlighting the internal weight of this affliction [[Job 7:20]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4645}}` is concentrated in its single, poignant usage:
* **The Individual as a Target:** The term expresses the profound personal anguish of feeling specifically targeted by an omnipotent being. Job's use of the word suggests not random misfortune, but a deliberate action where he has been **set** `{{H7760}}` as a **mark**.
* **The Paradox of Sovereignty and Suffering:** In [[Job 7:20]], the word is directed at the "**preserver** of men" `{{H5341}}`. This creates a stark theological tension, questioning how a protector can also be the one who sets a person up as an object of attack.
* **The Burden of Divine Scrutiny:** Being a **mark** results in becoming a **burden** `{{H4853}}` to oneself. This illustrates that being the focus of divine opposition is an unbearable state, leading to deep internal suffering and despair.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4645}}` **miphgâʻ** is a highly specific term whose meaning is defined entirely by its context in Job's lament. Though used only once, it provides a crucial lens for understanding the experience of one who feels singled out for divine affliction. It transforms abstract suffering into a concrete reality: being a **mark** deliberately set for attack. The word encapsulates the painful paradox of being under the watch of a God who is both a **preserver** and, from Job's perspective, an antagonist.
TRV