The Hebrew word maq, represented by H4716, denotes rottenness and stink. Derived from a root meaning "a melting," it conveys a sense of putridity and decay. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, both within the book of Isaiah, where it is used to describe the consequences of judgment.
In its biblical usage, H4716 illustrates divine judgment through powerful sensory imagery. In Isaiah's prophecy against the daughters of Zion, it signifies a complete reversal of their pampered state, where "instead of sweet smell H1314 there shall be stink H4716" Isaiah 3:24. Later, it is used in a simile to describe the fate of those who reject God's law: just as fire devours stubble, "so their root H8328 shall be as rottenness H4716" Isaiah 5:24, indicating a foundational decay.
Several related words provide context for the concept of decay and judgment associated with H4716:
- H1314 besem (smell, spice, sweet odour): This word is used in direct contrast to H4716, where the pleasant "sweet smell" of fragrances is replaced by the foulness of "stink" as a sign of judgment Isaiah 3:24.
- H8328 sheresh (root): This word signifies a foundation or source. Its connection to H4716 is profoundly negative, as the "root" of the disobedient is prophesied to become "as rottenness" Isaiah 5:24.
- H7179 qash (stubble): This word for dry straw is used in a simile of swift destruction, where it is devoured by fire, just as the root of the wicked becomes rottenness Isaiah 5:24.
The theological weight of H4716 is concentrated in its role as a symbol of divine retribution.
- Judgment as Reversal: The word highlights a key aspect of judgment where blessings and luxuries are stripped away and replaced by their opposite. The exchange of a "sweet smell" for a "stink" illustrates a dramatic fall from a state of honor to one of shame and disgust Isaiah 3:24.
- Consequence of Rejecting God's Law: Its use in Isaiah 5:24 directly links internal corruption to disobedience. Because the people "have cast away the law of the LORD," their very foundation, their "root," becomes infected with rottenness.
- Symbol of Inevitable Decay: Paired with imagery of fire consuming chaff and stubble, H4716 portrays the result of sin not as an arbitrary punishment, but as an organic and inevitable process of decay that destroys from within.
In summary, H4716 is a potent but rare word that vividly communicates concepts of decay, putridity, and judgment. Though used only twice, it powerfully illustrates the consequences of turning away from God. It paints a picture of divine judgment as both a humiliating reversal of fortune and an internal, foundational corruption that leads to utter ruin.
TRV