from צָהַל; a whinnying (through impatience for battle or lust); neighing.
Transliteration:matshâlâh
Pronunciation:mats-haw-law'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The noun מַצְהָלָה (matshâlâh), Strong's `{{H4684}}`, is derived from the root צָהַל (tsâhal), which carries a primary sense of "to neigh," but also "to shout for joy" or "to be bright." The nominal form `{{H4684}}` specifically captures the powerful and often unrestrained sound of a horse: "a whinnying" or "neighing." The base definition further specifies this sound as arising from "impatience for battle" or "lust," indicating a strong, instinctual drive. This suggests a sound that is not merely an expression of animal contentment but of intense, often aggressive or passionate, energy.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word מַצְהָלָה (matshâlâh) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in [[Jeremiah 8:16]]:
> "From Dan is heard the snorting of his horses; at the sound of the neighing of his stallions the whole land trembles. They come and devour the land and all that is in it, the city and those who dwell in it."
In this sole occurrence, the "neighing" (מַצְהָלָה) of the horses is a terrifying harbinger of impending invasion and judgment. The sound originates from Dan, the northernmost point of Israel, signaling the approach of a destructive force (likely the Babylonian army) from the north. The prophet Jeremiah uses this vivid auditory image to convey the immediacy and overwhelming nature of the coming disaster. The sound itself is depicted as so potent that it causes "the whole land" to tremble, emphasizing the terror and futility of resistance. Here, the "neighing" is clearly associated with the "impatience for battle" aspect of its definition, portraying a relentless, aggressive military advance that will consume everything in its path.
### Related Words & Concepts
The foundational root for מַצְהָלָה (matshâlâh) is צָהַל (tsâhal), `{{H6670}}`. This root is crucial for understanding the broader semantic field. While it can denote a joyful shout (e.g., [[1 Samuel 1:14]]; [[Isaiah 12:6]]), its connection to horses and their sounds, especially in contexts of aggression or intense desire, is prominent. For instance, in [[Jeremiah 5:8]], the root צָהַל (tsâhal) is used to describe men "neighing" after their neighbors' wives, linking it explicitly to sexual lust. This demonstrates the broader semantic field of intense, often uncontrolled, animalistic urges from which `{{H4684}}` draws its meaning, even if the noun itself is only used in the battle context.
Other related concepts include:
* **Horses:** סוּס (sûs), `{{H5483}}`, and פָּרָשׁ (pārāsh), `{{H6571}}` (horseman/horse). The sound is intrinsically linked to these animals, which in biblical prophecy often symbolize military might, conquest, and instruments of divine judgment.
* **Sound/Noise:** קוֹל (qôl), `{{H6963}}` (voice, sound). `{{H4684}}` represents a specific, potent type of sound.
* **War/Invasion:** מִלְחָמָה (milḥāmâ), `{{H4421}}`. The context in Jeremiah unequivocally links the neighing to military aggression and impending conflict.
* **Trembling/Fear:** חָרַד (ḥārad), `{{H2729}}`. The effect described in [[Jeremiah 8:16]] highlights the terror induced by the sound.
### Theological Significance
While the base definition includes "lust," the sole biblical occurrence of `{{H4684}}` in [[Jeremiah 8:16]] places its theological significance firmly within the context of divine judgment and the terror of impending invasion. The "neighing" serves as an auditory sign of God's impending wrath, signaling the irresistible advance of an enemy army, likely the Babylonians, against a rebellious Judah.
The sound is not merely incidental but is depicted as having a profound physical and psychological impact, causing "the whole land" to tremble. This emphasizes the overwhelming power of the judgment and the futility of human resistance. It is a vivid prophetic image designed to instill fear and underscore the certainty of God's punitive action against a people who have strayed from His covenant. Though not directly applied to human lust in its noun form, the underlying root צָהַל (tsâhal) does carry this connotation (e.g., [[Jeremiah 5:8]]). This broader semantic range enriches our understanding of `{{H4684}}` as a sound emanating from powerful, often destructive, and unrestrained drives, whether military aggression or carnal desire, both of which can lead to ruin in a theological context of divine justice.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מַצְהָלָה (matshâlâh), `{{H4684}}`, denotes the powerful "neighing" or "whinnying" of a horse, specifically indicating readiness for battle or intense desire. Though appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible, in [[Jeremiah 8:16]], its impact is profound. There, it functions as a terrifying auditory harbinger of divine judgment, signaling the relentless advance of an invading army that causes the entire land to tremble. Derived from the root צָהַל (tsâhal), which also carries connotations of intense, often unrestrained, urges (including lust), `{{H4684}}` powerfully conveys the overwhelming and destructive force of God's decreed punishment, underscoring the gravity and inevitability of His righteous judgment.
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