from רָמַס; abasement (the act or the thing); tread (down) -ing, (to be) trodden (down) under foot.
Transliteration:mirmâç
Pronunciation:meer-mawce'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The word mirmâç (מִרְמָס, `{{H4823}}`) derives from the root râmas (רָמַס, `{{H7429}}`), which fundamentally means "to trample," "to tread down," or "to crush." The noun mirmâç thus encapsulates the concept of being trodden underfoot, signifying a state of abasement, subjugation, or ruin. Its semantic range extends from the act of trampling to the resulting state of being trampled, implying contempt, destruction, or utter defeat. It often describes a place or people subjected to severe oppression and degradation, where their dignity, strength, or very existence is crushed by an opposing force. This can be literal physical trampling or metaphorical subjugation and humiliation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
mirmâç appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, but each occurrence powerfully conveys its core meaning of abasement and ruin.
* **[[Isaiah 5:5]]**: "And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be a mirmâç (trodden down)." Here, the term describes the fate of Judah, depicted as a vineyard that will be exposed to destruction and desolation, utterly vulnerable to being trampled by invaders. It signifies the complete loss of protection and the resulting humiliation.
* **[[Isaiah 10:6]]**: "I send him against a godless nation, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to make them a mirmâç (trampling) like the mud of the streets." This verse illustrates divine judgment through the Assyrian army, who will reduce the rebellious nation to utter contempt and destruction, as easily crushed as street mud. The imagery emphasizes the thoroughness of the devastation and the utter lack of resistance.
* **[[Isaiah 28:3]]**: "The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim will be mirmâç (trodden underfoot)." This refers to the northern kingdom of Israel, specifically its arrogant leaders. Their pride and security will be utterly demolished and humiliated, their glory reduced to something trampled underfoot.
* **[[Daniel 8:13]]**: "Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, 'For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and the host to be mirmâç (trampled underfoot)?'" In this eschatological context, mirmâç describes the desecration and subjugation of the sanctuary and the people of God during a period of intense persecution. It underscores the profound distress and humiliation inflicted upon God's covenant people and His holy place.
Across these contexts, mirmâç consistently denotes a state of utter degradation, vulnerability, and destruction, often as a consequence of divine judgment or hostile aggression. It is not merely a passive state but implies violent, deliberate subjugation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary root from which mirmâç derives is râmas (רָמַס, `{{H7429}}`), "to trample," "to tread down," or "to crush." This verb is crucial for understanding the dynamic action implied by the noun. Other related terms include:
* bûs (בּוּס, `{{H947}}`): Also means "to trample," often with the connotation of contempt or disdain. For example, [[Psalm 7:5]] uses it for trampling life to the ground.
* shâma (שָׁמַם, `{{H8074}}`): "to be desolate" or "to be appalled." The state of mirmâç often leads to or is part of desolation.
* ḥereb (חֶרֶב, `{{H2719}}`): "sword." The instrument of violence that often accompanies the trampling and subjugation implied by mirmâç.
The concept of "treading underfoot" is a common biblical metaphor for conquest, humiliation, and utter defeat. It signifies the complete dominance of one party over another, reducing the subjugated to a state of worthlessness and powerlessness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of mirmâç is profound, primarily serving as a potent image of divine judgment and the consequences of rebellion against God. When God's people become a mirmâç, it signifies:
1. **Consequences of Disobedience**: The state of being trodden underfoot is frequently presented as a direct result of Israel's unfaithfulness and idolatry. It underscores the covenant curses and the painful reality of divine chastisement (e.g., [[Isaiah 5:5]], [[Isaiah 28:3]]).
2. **Divine Sovereignty in Judgment**: Even when foreign powers are the agents of this trampling, the Bible consistently portrays them as instruments in God's hand (e.g., [[Isaiah 10:6]]). This highlights God's absolute control over history and His use of nations to accomplish His righteous purposes, even through severe means.
3. **Vulnerability and Humiliation**: mirmâç powerfully conveys the utter vulnerability and humiliation of those who are crushed. It strips away pride, security, and dignity, leaving the subjected utterly exposed and degraded. This serves as a stark warning against arrogance and self-reliance.
4. **Desecration of the Holy**: In [[Daniel 8:13]], the application of mirmâç to the sanctuary emphasizes the profound horror of its desecration. This is not merely a physical act but a spiritual affront, highlighting the gravity of profaning what is sacred to God.
5. **Hope in Restoration (Implicit)**: While mirmâç describes a state of severe judgment, the prophetic context often implies a future hope of restoration where God's people will no longer be trampled. For instance, the vision in Daniel, while depicting a time of trampling, ultimately points towards the establishment of God's eternal kingdom that will never be trodden down ([[Daniel 2:44]]). This provides a counterpoint to the temporary nature of the mirmâç for God's elect.
### Summary
mirmâç (מִרְמָס, `{{H4823}}`) is a powerful Hebrew noun rooted in the verb "to trample" (`{{H7429}}`). It denotes a state of extreme abasement, subjugation, or ruin, where something or someone is literally or metaphorically "trodden underfoot." Biblically, it is used to describe the devastating consequences of divine judgment upon disobedient nations or peoples, signifying their complete loss of protection, dignity, and power. Whether applied to a vineyard, a nation, a proud crown, or even the sanctuary, mirmâç consistently conveys utter humiliation and destruction at the hands of an overwhelming force, often orchestrated by God's sovereign hand. While a term of severe judgment, its appearance in prophetic literature implicitly points to the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom, which will never be subjected to such a state of degradation.
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