### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Mârôwth**, represented by `{{H4796}}`, refers to a place in Palestine. Its name is derived from the plural of a word meaning "bitter springs." It appears only **1 time** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible, making its sole appearance highly significant for its interpretation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H4796}}` is found in [[Micah 1:12]], where the prophet describes a scene of impending judgment. The passage states, "For the inhabitant of **Maroth** waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem." This verse captures a moment of anxious hope turning into bitter disappointment, as the expected good does not arrive. Instead, calamity, decreed by the LORD `{{H3068}}` himself, descends upon the region, reaching as far as the capital city, Jerusalem `{{H3389}}`.
### Related Words & Concepts
The surrounding words in its only context illuminate the verse's meaning:
* `{{H2342}}` **chûwl**: This root, translated as "waited carefully," can mean to wait but also to writhe in pain or tremble, suggesting an anxious, pained anticipation [[Jeremiah 5:22]]. It implies a deep, sorrowful longing.
* `{{H2896}}` **ṭôwb**: This word means **good** in the widest sense. It is what the inhabitants of Maroth hoped for, contrasting sharply with the outcome. The LORD requires what is **good** [[Micah 6:8]], but here, something else is delivered.
* `{{H7451}}` **raʻ**: As the direct opposite of what was desired, this word for **evil** or calamity describes what actually "came down from the LORD." It represents affliction and distress [[Psalms 34:19]].
* `{{H3381}}` **yârad**: Meaning to **descend** or "come down," this word depicts a divine action. While God can "come down" to deliver [[Exodus 3:8]], here it is used to describe the arrival of judgment from heaven.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4796}}` is tied entirely to its singular, poignant appearance.
* **Sovereign Judgment:** The verse explicitly states that the **evil** `{{H7451}}` "came down from the LORD{H3068}" [[Micah 1:12]]. This shows that the event is not a random misfortune but a direct act of God's sovereignty.
* **Expectation vs. Reality:** The inhabitants waited for **good** `{{H2896}}`, but their experience was bitter, a reality that reflects the very name of their town, **Maroth** ("bitter springs"). This serves as a powerful illustration of judgment subverting human hopes.
* **The Reach of Calamity:** The evil does not stop at Maroth but extends "unto the gate{H8179} of Jerusalem{H3389}," indicating that the consequences of sin and the resulting judgment are far-reaching, affecting even the central city of God's people.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4796}}` **Mârôwth** is a place name whose meaning is profoundly connected to its sole biblical context. While the inhabitants longed for good, their story, encapsulated in a single verse, becomes a memorial to bitter disappointment and the unavoidable reality of divine judgment. It demonstrates how a location's name can underscore a deep theological truth about the consequences that follow when hope is met not with blessing, but with a righteous calamity sent from the LORD.
TRV