### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **merqâchâh**, represented by `{{H4841}}`, refers to a **pot of ointment** or, abstractly, a seasoning. Though it appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, it is used to create powerful and intense imagery. Its meaning encompasses both the container for a spiced mixture and the act of spicing itself.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two uses of `{{H4841}}` illustrate its dual meaning. In Job, it describes the immense power of Leviathan, which "maketh the deep to boil like a pot" and "maketh the sea like a **pot of ointment**" [[Job 41:31]]. Here, it is a concrete object used as a simile for the churning sea. In Ezekiel, it is used more abstractly in a prophecy of judgment against Jerusalem, where the Lord commands to "Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and **spice** it **well**" [[Ezekiel 24:10]]. In this context, it signifies the process of seasoning within a grim, symbolic recipe.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide deeper context for the themes of preparation and heat associated with `{{H4841}}`:
* `{{H7543}}` **râqach** (to perfume; apothecary, compound, make (ointment), prepare, spice): This is the primitive root from which `merqâchâh` is derived. It points to the skilled work of an **apothecary** in preparing holy anointing oil and incense [[Exodus 37:29]].
* `{{H5518}}` **çîyr** (a pot; caldron, pan): This word for a vessel is used in direct parallel with `{{H4841}}`, when Leviathan makes the deep boil like a **pot** [[Job 41:31]]. It is also used in Ezekiel to symbolize the city of Jerusalem, which is described as a **pot** whose scum must be judged [[Ezekiel 24:6]].
* `{{H7570}}` **râthach** (to boil): This verb captures the action associated with a `merqâchâh`. It is used to describe how Leviathan makes the deep to **boil** [[Job 41:31]] and also appears in a related prophecy in Ezekiel where the contents of the pot are made to **boil** well [[Ezekiel 24:5]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4841}}` is demonstrated through its powerful metaphorical uses.
* **Symbol of Divine Judgment:** In Ezekiel, the preparation of a stew in a pot, including the act of spicing it well, serves as a terrifying allegory for God's judgment upon Jerusalem. The city is the pot, its people are the contents, and the process is their fiery destruction [[Ezekiel 24:10]].
* **Metaphor for Immense Power:** The term is used in Job to convey the incomprehensible strength of Leviathan, a creature that can turn the vast sea `{{H3220}}` into a churning **pot of ointment** [[Job 41:31]]. This illustrates the awesome and untamable power found within God's creation.
* **The Art of Preparation:** Stemming from its root `râqach` `{{H7543}}`, the word is connected to the meticulous "art of the apothecary" [[Exodus 30:35]]. This implies an intentional, skilled process, whether for creating sacred items or, in the case of Ezekiel, for executing a thorough and final judgment.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H4841}}` is a rare term, it carries significant figurative weight. It moves from a simple "pot of ointment" or "seasoning" to become a vehicle for some of the Bible's most potent imagery. It is used to illustrate both the terrifying finality of divine judgment and the overwhelming power of God's handiwork, demonstrating how a common process can be elevated to explain profound spiritual realities.
TRV