### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun מַרְגּוֹעַ (margôwaʻ, `{{H4771}}`) is derived from the verbal root רָגַע (ragaʻ), which carries a dual semantic range: to stir or disturb, and conversely, to quiet, settle, or give rest. In the Hiphil stem, רָגַּע specifically means "to give rest" or "to cause to settle." Consequently, מַרְגּוֹעַ as a noun encapsulates the state or place where such rest is found. Its core meaning encompasses both a literal "resting place" and an abstract "rest" or "repose." The word connotes a cessation from toil, trouble, or disturbance, implying a state of peace, tranquility, or relief.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
מַרְגּוֹעַ (margôwaʻ, `{{H4771}}`) appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, each instance illuminating a distinct aspect of its semantic range:
1. **[[Jeremiah 45:3]]**: In this passage, Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, laments, "You said, 'Woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning and find no מַרְגּוֹעַ (rest).'" Here, margôwaʻ denotes an internal, abstract state. Baruch expresses a profound lack of inner peace, relief, or cessation from his distress and weariness. The context is one of personal anguish amidst the impending national catastrophe, highlighting the absence of psychological or spiritual repose. This usage emphasizes the subjective experience of rest or its absence.
2. **[[Isaiah 34:14]]**: This verse describes the utter desolation of Edom as a result of divine judgment: "And wild beasts of the desert shall meet with the jackals, and the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; yea, the night-monster shall settle there, and shall find for herself a מַרְגּוֹעַ (resting place)." In this context, margôwaʻ refers to a concrete, physical location. It is a literal "resting place" or dwelling, albeit for creatures of the wilderness and desolation. This usage underscores the word's capacity to describe a physical haven, even one that signifies ruin and abandonment from a human perspective.
These two occurrences demonstrate the word's flexibility, signifying both an internal state of peace and a physical place of repose, aligning perfectly with its base definition.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of "rest" is rich in the Hebrew Bible, and מַרְגּוֹעַ (margôwaʻ, `{{H4771}}`) relates to several key terms and ideas:
* **רָגַע (ragaʻ)**: The verbal root from which margôwaʻ is derived. While it can mean to agitate, its primary sense in relation to margôwaʻ is to quiet, settle, or bring to rest. The noun emphasizes the result or state of this action.
* **נוּחַ (nuach, `{{H5117}}`)**: A very common Hebrew verb for "to rest," often implying settling down, cessation of activity, or finding peace. It is used for God resting on the seventh day ([[Genesis 2:2-3]]) and the ark resting after the flood ([[Genesis 8:4]]).
* **מְנוּחָה (menuḥah, `{{H4496}}`)**: A noun form of נוּחַ, meaning "rest," "resting place," or "quietness." It is perhaps the closest semantic parallel to margôwaʻ, though menuḥah is far more frequently used and has a broader application, referring to the land of rest ([[Deuteronomy 12:9-10]]), rest from war, or general tranquility.
* **שָׁבַת (shabat, `{{H7673}}`)**: To cease, desist, or stop. This verb is foundational to the concept of the Sabbath, emphasizing cessation from labor.
* **שָׁלוֹם (shalom, `{{H7965}}`)**: Peace, completeness, welfare. While not directly synonymous with margôwaʻ, "rest" often implies a state of shalom, free from disturbance or conflict.
* **Concepts**: Beyond specific words, margôwaʻ participates in broader biblical concepts such as tranquility, security, relief from suffering, cessation of toil, and the ultimate eschatological rest promised by God.
### Theological Significance
The concept of "rest" is profoundly theological in the biblical narrative. God Himself rests after creation ([[Genesis 2:2-3]]), establishing a divine pattern for humanity. The promised land is often depicted as a place of rest ([[Deuteronomy 12:9-10]]), signifying security and cessation from wandering and warfare.
The two occurrences of מַרְגּוֹעַ (margôwaʻ, `{{H4771}}`) contribute to this theological tapestry:
* **The Absence of Rest**: Baruch's lament in [[Jeremiah 45:3]] highlights the human experience of suffering and the profound longing for relief. His inability to find margôwaʻ underscores a state of spiritual and emotional turmoil, often a consequence of divine judgment upon the nation or the personal cost of prophetic ministry. It implicitly points to the truth that true, lasting rest is not always found in earthly circumstances but is ultimately dependent on God's provision and presence.
* **Rest in Desolation**: The margôwaʻ found by wild creatures in the desolation of Edom ([[Isaiah 34:14]]) presents a stark image of divine judgment. What was once a place of human habitation and order becomes a "resting place" only for the creatures of chaos and ruin. This serves as a powerful contrast to God's intended rest for His people, emphasizing the consequences of rebellion and the utter abandonment that results from divine wrath. It highlights that not all "rest" is desirable; some rest is a sign of complete ruin.
Ultimately, the biblical narrative points beyond fleeting earthly margôwaʻ to an ultimate, divine rest. This eschatological rest is found in God's covenant faithfulness and is fully realized in the New Testament through Christ, who invites all who are weary and burdened to find rest in Him ([[Matthew 11:28]]).
### Summary
מַרְגּוֹעַ (margôwaʻ, `{{H4771}}`) is a rare Hebrew noun derived from the root רָגַע, signifying "a resting place" or "rest." Its two occurrences in the Hebrew Bible beautifully illustrate this dual meaning: in [[Jeremiah 45:3]], it denotes an abstract lack of internal "rest" or relief from distress for Baruch; conversely, in [[Isaiah 34:14]], it describes a literal "resting place" for desolate creatures in a land under divine judgment. Though infrequent, margôwaʻ enriches the broader biblical theme of rest, contrasting the human longing for peace with the reality of turmoil, and implicitly pointing to the ultimate rest found in God's sovereign plan and presence. It serves as a poignant reminder of both the human need for cessation from suffering and the desolation that can result from divine judgment.
TRV