### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mârûwd**, represented by `{{H4788}}`, describes a state of profound suffering, meaning an **outcast** or, more abstractly, **destitution** and **misery**. It appears only **3 times** in 3 unique verses, but each instance powerfully conveys a condition of maltreatment and despair. The word encompasses both the social status of being cast out and the internal experience of deep affliction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H4788}}` highlights a duty toward the vulnerable and a description of immense suffering. Isaiah uses the term to issue a practical command: to bring the poor who are **cast out** into one's house, as an act of true righteousness [[Isaiah 58:7]]. In Lamentations, the word shifts to an abstract noun describing the condition of Jerusalem after its fall. The city remembers her affliction and her **miseries** when her people fell into enemy hands with none to help [[Lamentations 1:7]]. Similarly, the prophet personally remembers his affliction and **misery**, comparing the experience to the bitterness of wormwood and gall [[Lamentations 3:19]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to define the scope of destitution and suffering associated with `{{H4788}}`:
* `{{H6041}}` **ʻânîy** (poor): This term refers to someone who is depressed in mind or circumstances. It is used in parallel with `{{H4788}}` to describe those who are in need of shelter and care [[Isaiah 58:7]]. The Lord promises to arise for the oppression of the **poor** and the sighing of the needy [[Psalms 12:5]].
* `{{H6040}}` **ʻŏnîy** (affliction): Defined as depression or misery, this word is used twice alongside `{{H4788}}` to emphasize the depth of suffering. Jerusalem remembers her **affliction** and miseries in the days of her downfall [[Lamentations 1:7]].
* `{{H3939}}` **laʻănâh** (wormwood): This word for a bitter plant is used metaphorically to describe the taste of the misery expressed by `{{H4788}}` [[Lamentations 3:19]]. Its use in scripture often signifies a bitter and accursed end [[Proverbs 5:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4788}}` is expressed through its different contexts.
* **A Call to Compassion:** The use of `{{H4788}}` in Isaiah establishes a clear divine mandate. God's people are explicitly instructed to care for the **cast out** by bringing them into their house `{{H1004}}` and covering the naked `{{H6174}}`, demonstrating that true worship involves tangible action toward the marginalized [[Isaiah 58:7]].
* **The Consequence of Judgment:** In Lamentations, **misery** `{{H4788}}` is presented as the state of Jerusalem after being judged. The city suffers these miseries after its people `{{H5971}}` fell `{{H5307}}` into the hand `{{H3027}}` of the enemy `{{H6862}}`, with adversaries mocking her sabbaths `{{H4868}}`, indicating a fall from divine protection [[Lamentations 1:7]].
* **A Catalyst for Remembrance:** The experience of **misery** `{{H4788}}` prompts a response of remembrance `{{H2142}}`. It causes Jerusalem to remember her former "pleasant things" `{{H4262}}` and drives the prophet to cry out to God, linking deep suffering with the act of recalling God's past relationship and seeking Him in distress ([[Lamentations 1:7]], [[Lamentations 3:19]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4788}}` is a potent term that defines a state of being an outcast and the experience of misery. Though rare, its usage provides a powerful dual lesson. It serves as a foundation for the biblical call to social action, commanding care for the vulnerable and rejected. Simultaneously, it illustrates the profound sorrow and destitution that can result from judgment, a misery so bitter it is compared to wormwood and gall.
TRV