### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **margêʻâh**, represented by `{{H4774}}`, is a term for **refreshing**. Derived from a root meaning "rest," this word appears only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in scripture. Its rarity makes its single use highly significant, pointing to a specific kind of renewal offered by God.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H4774}}` is in [[Isaiah 28:12]]. In this passage, God speaks to his people, offering them a solution for their fatigue. He presents "the **refreshing**" as a divine promise, paired with "the rest" `{{H4496}}`, intended for the "weary" `{{H5889}}`. However, the verse concludes with the statement that the people "would not hear" `{{H8085}}`, placing this offer of divine refreshment in the context of a rejected gift.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context help illuminate the meaning of `{{H4774}}`:
* `{{H4496}}` **mᵉnûwchâh** (repose or... peacefully;... rest): This word is used in parallel with `{{H4774}}` to describe the peace God offers. It can refer to a physical place of rest [[Isaiah 11:10]] or a state of quiet, such as beside the "still" waters [[Psalms 23:2]].
* `{{H5117}}` **nûwach** (to rest, i.e. settle down): This is the root verb from which the concept of rest is derived. It is used to describe God resting on the seventh day [[Exodus 20:11]] and His presence giving rest to His people [[Exodus 33:14]].
* `{{H5889}}` **ʻâyêph** (languid; faint, thirsty, weary): This describes the state of those to whom refreshing is offered. The term is used for a soul that is weary [[Jeremiah 31:25]] or a land that is thirsty and dry [[Psalms 63:1]].
* `{{H8085}}` **shâmaʻ** (to hear intelligently): This is the action the people refused to perform. True hearing in the biblical sense implies obedience, as when Samuel states that "to obey is better than sacrifice" [[1 Samuel 15:22]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4774}}` is tied to its specific context in [[Isaiah 28:12]].
* **A Spoken Promise:** The refreshing is not an abstract concept but a direct offer communicated through God's spoken word. He is the one who "said" this promise `{{H559}}`, emphasizing its divine origin [[Isaiah 28:12]].
* **A Rejected Gift:** The central tragedy of its use is that this divine offer of refreshing was available but ultimately rejected. The people's refusal "to hear" `{{H8085}}` prevented them from experiencing the very relief they needed.
* **Relief for the Weary:** This concept highlights God's specific concern for the "weary" `{{H5889}}`. The promise of refreshing is a direct answer to a state of spiritual and physical exhaustion, as seen in the promise to satiate the weary soul [[Jeremiah 31:25]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4774}}` is a highly specific term that encapsulates a divine offer of renewal. Though it appears only once, its context in [[Isaiah 28:12]] provides a powerful illustration of a key theological dynamic: God's gracious provision of rest and **refreshing** contrasted with humanity's choice to listen and receive it. It stands as a testament to a beautiful promise that was offered but, tragically, not accepted.
TRV