a primitive root; properly, to press, i.e. (figuratively) to be pungent or vehement; to irritate; embolden, be forcible, grievous, sore.
Transliteration:mârats
Pronunciation:maw-rats'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The root H4834 (מָרַץ, *mârats*) is a primitive root, indicating a foundational and direct meaning. Its primary sense is "to press," from which a rich semantic range unfolds, largely revolving around concepts of intensity, affliction, and force. The definition provided offers several key extensions:
1. **Physical/Sensory Intensity:** This includes descriptions like "pungent" or "sore," denoting a sharp, often painful, and intense sensation. It speaks to a feeling that is acutely felt and difficult to ignore.
2. **Emotional/Psychological Distress:** Terms such as "irritate" and "grievous" fall into this category. Here, the "pressing" manifests as causing deep sorrow, vexation, or profound emotional discomfort. It points to an inner state of distress.
3. **Force and Vehemence:** The meanings "vehement," "forcible," and "embolden" (often in a negative or stubborn sense) describe actions or states characterized by strong, unyielding pressure or intensity. This can refer to a powerful, even oppressive, exertion of will or influence.
The unifying thread across these applications is a sense of strong, often overwhelming, intensity that typically results in a negative impact or describes an unyielding quality. It can describe a state of being deeply "sore" or "grievous," or an action that "irritates" or is executed "forcibly."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root H4834 (מָרַץ, *mârats*) appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, but each instance powerfully illustrates its nuanced meanings.
1. **Profound Internal Anguish:** In [[Jeremiah 8:18]], the prophet laments, "My sorrow is incurable; my heart is faint within me." The word mârats is translated as "faint" or "sore," describing the intense, almost debilitating, pain in Jeremiah's heart due to the impending judgment upon his people. This usage aligns with the "sore" or "grievous" aspect of the definition, indicating a deep, internal affliction.
2. **Grievous and Enduring Suffering:** [[Jeremiah 15:18]] employs H4834 in Jeremiah's continued lament: "Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed?" Here, mârats describes the "incurable" or "grievous" nature of his wound, emphasizing its severity and persistent quality. The context underscores the prophet's profound and unremitting suffering, whether physical or spiritual, highlighting a wound that presses in on him without relief.
3. **Forceful, Potentially Exploitative Action:** In [[Job 6:27]], Job confronts his friends, stating, "Indeed, you would cast lots for the orphan and traffic for your friend." The KJV translates mârats here as "ye overwhelm" or "ye make a gain of," implying a forceful, perhaps even oppressive or exploitative, action. This usage aligns with the "forcible" or "press" aspect of the definition, suggesting that Job's friends are applying undue pressure or taking advantage of the vulnerable, akin to selling them off or exploiting their weakness. This shifts the semantic focus from internal suffering to external, potentially unethical, action.
Across these contexts, H4834 consistently conveys a sense of strong intensity, whether it is the overwhelming burden of sorrow, the enduring nature of a grievous wound, or the forceful, possibly unjust, actions of individuals.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H4834 (מָרַץ, *mârats*) overlaps with several Hebrew terms related to pain, suffering, and force, yet maintains its distinct emphasis on intensity and a "pressing" quality.
1. **Words for Pain and Suffering:**
* `{{H3510}}` (כָּאַב, *ka'av*): "to be in pain," "to grieve." This is a general term for pain, whether physical or emotional. While ka'av describes the *existence* of pain, mârats often describes the *severity* or *grievousness* of that pain.
* `{{H2478}}` (חָלָה, *chalah*): "to be sick," "to be weak," "to be grieved." Similar to mârats in describing a state of illness or distress, but mârats often carries a stronger connotation of intensity or an unyielding nature.
* `{{H6031}}` (אָנַח, *'anach*): "to sigh," "to groan." While anach describes the *expression* of pain or distress, mârats describes the *nature* of the pain itself—its severity and pressing quality.
2. **Words for Force and Strength:**
* `{{H2388}}` (חָזַק, *chazaq*): "to be strong," "to seize," "to prevail." While chazaq often denotes positive strength or resolve, mârats can describe a "forcible" action that is negative or oppressive, as seen in Job.
* `{{H6238}}` (עָשַׁק, *'ashaq*): "to oppress," "to defraud." This term directly relates to the concept of taking advantage or exploiting, which is a possible nuance of mârats in [[Job 6:27]].
The unique contribution of H4834 lies in its ability to encapsulate both an intense internal state of affliction and an external action of strong, often adverse, pressure or exploitation. It conveys a sense of something that is acutely felt or forcefully applied.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H4834 (מָרַץ, *mârats*) provides insight into the nature of human suffering, the character of affliction, and the moral implications of human actions within a biblical framework.
1. **The Depth of Human Suffering:** The uses in Jeremiah ([[Jeremiah 8:18]], [[Jeremiah 15:18]]) profoundly illustrate the reality of intense, "grievous," and seemingly "incurable" suffering. This acknowledges that human pain, whether from external circumstances or internal anguish, can be overwhelming and deeply affect one's spirit. The prophet's lament, expressed with this word, highlights a theological space for honest, raw expression of pain before God, even when immediate relief is absent. It speaks to a God who is not distant from the "sore" hearts of His people.
2. **Moral Implications of Oppression:** The potential interpretation of H4834 in [[Job 6:27]] as "overwhelming" or "exploiting" the vulnerable points to a significant theological concern for justice. If Job's friends are accused of such actions, it underscores the biblical condemnation of those who use their strength or position to "press" or take advantage of the weak (orphans, friends). This connects the word to themes of righteousness, social justice, and the consequences of human wickedness. God's character is one that defends the vulnerable, and actions described by mârats in this negative sense stand in opposition to His divine order.
3. **The Persistence of Affliction and Hope:** While mârats describes pain as "incurable" in Jeremiah, this does not negate ultimate hope. Instead, it frames the reality of persistent suffering within a narrative of divine sovereignty and eventual redemption. The "grievous" wound reminds the reader that God's people endure real pain, but their ultimate trust remains in the One who can heal all wounds.
In summary, H4834 serves as a potent descriptor of intense pressure—whether it is the internal burden of profound sorrow or the external force of human exploitation. It underscores the severity of suffering in a fallen world and the moral weight of actions that "press" upon others, all within the context of God's overarching justice and compassion.
### Summary
The Hebrew root H4834 (מָרַץ, *mârats*) is a primitive root signifying "to press," which extends to a rich semantic range of intensity, affliction, and force. Its core meaning encompasses being "pungent," "sore," "grievous," "vehement," or "forcible." In [[Jeremiah 8:18]] and [[Jeremiah 15:18]], it powerfully conveys the profound and enduring nature of internal sorrow or physical suffering, describing a heart "faint" or a wound "incurable." In [[Job 6:27]], it can denote a forceful, potentially exploitative, action, such as "overwhelming" or "trafficking" with the vulnerable. Theologically, H4834 highlights the stark reality of deep human suffering, the moral implications of oppressive actions, and the persistence of affliction in a fallen world, inviting reflection on divine justice and the lament of God's people. It consistently communicates a strong, often negative, sense of intensity or pressure.
TRV