or מוֹץ; (Zephaniah 2:2), from מוּץ; chaff (as pressed out, i.e. winnowed or (rather) threshed loose); chaff.
Transliteration:môts
Pronunciation:motes
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H4671 (מֹץ, *môts*) primarily denotes "chaff." This term refers to the dry, lightweight husks or outer coverings of cereal grains, such as wheat or barley, which are separated from the edible kernels during the agricultural processes of threshing and winnowing. The etymology of *môts* is linked to the root מוּץ (mûts), meaning "to press out" or "to squeeze," which aptly describes the physical action involved in separating the chaff from the grain.
Beyond its literal meaning, *môts* carries a profound symbolic and metaphorical weight in biblical literature. Its inherent properties—its lack of substance, its worthlessness, its ephemerality, and its susceptibility to being effortlessly scattered by the wind—form the foundation for its extended semantic range. Thus, *môts* becomes a powerful symbol for that which is insubstantial, easily dispersed, lacking in intrinsic value or lasting substance, and ultimately destined for perishing or subject to divine judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H4671 (*môts*) appears a limited number of times in the Old Testament, yet its occurrences are consistently impactful, predominantly found within poetic and prophetic discourse, highlighting its potent symbolic resonance.
* **[[Psalm 1:4]]**: "The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away." This is arguably the most iconic usage, starkly contrasting the flourishing, rooted righteous with the unstable, ultimately destroyed wicked. The wind here symbolizes an irresistible force, often divine judgment, that effortlessly disperses the wicked.
* **[[Job 21:18]]**: "How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in His anger? That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away?" Similar to Psalm 1, Job employs *môts* to illustrate the fleeting nature and inevitable downfall of those who oppose God. The "storm" intensifies the imagery of overwhelming divine retribution.
* **[[Isaiah 17:13]]**: "The nations rumble like the rumbling of mighty waters; but He will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, driven like chaff on the mountains before the wind, and like whirling dust before the storm." Here, *môts* vividly depicts the swift and complete dispersal of formidable, rebellious nations before the omnipotent presence of Yahweh. Their perceived strength is rendered utterly insignificant.
* **[[Isaiah 29:5]]**: "But the multitude of your foes will be like fine dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff; and it will happen in an instant, suddenly." This passage underscores the ephemeral existence of enemies, contrasting their apparent might with their inherent vulnerability when confronted by God. The emphasis is on the suddenness and totality of their disappearance.
* **[[Isaiah 41:15]]**: "Behold, I will make you a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; you will thresh the mountains and crush them, and you will make the hills like chaff." In this prophetic promise, God empowers His people, Israel, to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. "Mountains" and "hills," representing formidable adversaries or challenges, are reduced to *môts*, signifying their complete subjugation and dispersal.
* **[[Jeremiah 13:24]]**: "Therefore I will scatter them like chaff driven by the wind from the wilderness." This verse prophesies God's judgment upon Judah, where their unfaithfulness will lead to their dispersion and exile, mirroring the scattering of chaff.
* **[[Daniel 2:35]]**: In Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, the various components of the statue (representing human empires) are "broken in pieces and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found." This is a potent eschatological image, signifying the complete annihilation of all earthly kingdoms by God's eternal kingdom. The *môts* here denotes absolute disappearance and non-existence.
* **[[Hosea 13:3]]**: "Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that goes early away, like chaff that is driven by the whirlwind from the threshing floor, and like smoke from the window." This lament over Ephraim's idolatry uses *môts* to illustrate their fleeting existence and inevitable destruction.
* **[[Zephaniah 2:2]]**: "before the decree takes effect—the day passes like chaff—before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's wrath comes upon you." This passage emphasizes the swiftness and inevitability of the coming day of the Lord's judgment, depicting time itself as passing quickly, like chaff.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of "chaff" is frequently juxtaposed with other agricultural terms and metaphors that collectively illuminate the themes of separation, judgment, and the nature of righteousness versus wickedness.
* **Grain/Wheat (e.g., `{{H2406}}` *ḥiṭṭāh*, `{{H1250}}` *bar*):** This represents the direct antithesis to chaff. Grain symbolizes substance, value, sustenance, and the righteous (cf. Matthew 3:12). The separation of grain from chaff is a pervasive metaphor for divine judgment, where the valuable are preserved and the worthless discarded.
* **Stubble (e.g., `{{H7179}}` *qaš*):** Often used in conjunction with or synonymously with chaff, "stubble" refers to dry, easily combustible material. It signifies weakness, worthlessness, and susceptibility to destruction, particularly by fire (e.g., [[Isaiah 5:24]], [[Obadiah 1:18]]).
* **Wind (e.g., `{{H7307}}` *rûaḥ*):** The primary agent by which chaff is dispersed. In biblical imagery, wind frequently symbolizes divine power, judgment, or the transient nature of human existence.
* **Threshing Floor (e.g., `{{H1637}}` *gōren*):** The physical location where the separation of grain and chaff occurs. It serves as a potent symbol for a place of judgment, purification, or decisive action (e.g., [[Ruth 3:2]], [[1 Samuel 23:1]]).
* **Winnowing Fork/Fan (e.g., `{{H4214}}` *mizreh*):** The implement used to toss the threshed material into the air, allowing the wind to carry away the lighter chaff while the heavier grain falls. John the Baptist employs this imagery to describe the Messiah's role in judgment (Matthew 3:12).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H4671 (*môts*) is profound and multi-layered, serving as a powerful descriptor in the biblical narrative.
* **Divine Judgment and Separation:** The most prominent theological theme linked to *môts* is that of divine judgment. Analogous to a farmer separating valuable grain from worthless chaff, God is depicted as discerning and separating the righteous from the wicked. The wicked, likened to chaff, possess no inherent spiritual substance or lasting value in God's sight and are destined for dispersal and destruction. This imagery underscores God's perfect discernment and His unwavering justice.
* **Transience of the Wicked and Earthly Powers:** *Môts* powerfully conveys the fleeting and insubstantial nature of human power, particularly that which stands in opposition to God. Empires, nations, and individuals who exalt themselves or defy divine will are ultimately depicted as lacking substance, easily swept away by God's power. Their perceived might is an illusion, and their existence is ephemeral.
* **God's Sovereignty and Omnipotence:** The effortless dispersal of chaff by the wind implicitly highlights God's absolute sovereignty. He is the ultimate "winnowing fan" who controls the forces that bring about judgment. No human strength, defiance, or scheme can withstand His power; all opposition is ultimately reduced to nothingness.
* **The Radical Contrast Between Righteousness and Wickedness:** As established in [[Psalm 1:4]], *môts* provides a foundational biblical contrast. The righteous are firmly rooted, fruitful, and enduring, while the wicked are like *môts*—unstable, unproductive, and destined for destruction. This metaphor emphasizes the profound difference in destiny between those who live in obedience to God and those who reject His ways.
* **Eschatological Fulfillment:** In [[Daniel 2:35]], the image of *môts* takes on a significant eschatological dimension, pointing to the ultimate and complete annihilation of all earthly kingdoms by the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. This signifies the final triumph of God's reign and the utter disappearance of all human opposition.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H4671 (מֹץ, *môts*), meaning "chaff," functions as a profoundly evocative and recurring metaphor throughout the Old Testament, particularly within its poetic and prophetic literature. Rooted in an etymology that implies "to press out," it vividly describes the lightweight, worthless husks separated from grain during the agricultural process of threshing. Biblically, *môts* is almost exclusively employed to symbolize that which is insubstantial, fleeting, and ultimately destined for destruction, most notably in the context of divine judgment.
Its occurrences in passages such as [[Psalm 1:4]], [[Job 21:18]], [[Isaiah 17:13]], [[Jeremiah 13:24]], and [[Daniel 2:35]] consistently portray the wicked, unfaithful nations, or any opposing powers as *môts*—easily scattered by the "wind" of God's power or judgment. This imagery stands in stark contrast to the enduring nature of the righteous and the stability of God's kingdom. Related concepts include "grain" (the valuable counterpart), "stubble" (another combustible waste product), "wind" (the agent of dispersal), and the "threshing floor" (the symbolic place of separation and judgment). Theologically, *môts* profoundly underscores God's absolute sovereignty, His just judgment upon sin and rebellion, the inherent transience of all that opposes Him, and the radical distinction in destiny between those who serve Him and those who do not. It serves as a powerful and reverent reminder of God's discerning power and the ultimate futility of human defiance.
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