### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉshûwgâh**, represented by `{{H4879}}`, translates to **mistake** or **error**. It is derived from an unused root that means to stray. This specific noun is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, highlighting its very specific application.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H4879}}` is in the book of Job, where Job is defending his integrity. He states, "And be it indeed that I have erred, mine **error** remaineth with myself" [[Job 19:4]]. In this context, the word is used to express personal accountability. Job concedes the possibility of having made a **mistake**, but he asserts that the consequence or reality of that **error** is his own to bear, remaining with him and not affecting others.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used alongside `{{H4879}}` in its only biblical context, providing a fuller understanding of its meaning:
* `{{H7686}}` **shâgâh** (to stray, err, mistake): This is the root verb from which **mᵉshûwgâh** is derived. It signifies the action of making the mistake. In Job's statement, he uses this verb to describe the act, "that I have **erred**" [[Job 19:4]], which results in the noun "mine **error**."
* `{{H551}}` **ʼomnâm** (verily, indeed, no doubt): This adverb is used to add emphasis or confirm a statement. Job uses it to preface his point, "And be it **indeed** that I have erred" [[Job 19:4]], underscoring his hypothetical concession for the sake of his argument.
* `{{H3885}}` **lûwn** (to abide, remain, lodge): This verb describes the enduring nature of the **error**. By stating the mistake "remaineth" with him, Job indicates that the error is a persistent state or consequence that stays with the one who committed it [[Job 19:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4879}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful use in the book of Job.
* **Personal Responsibility:** The term is central to the concept of personal accountability for one's actions. Job's declaration that "mine **error** remaineth with myself" frames mistakes as having personal, internalized consequences [[Job 19:4]].
* **The Nature of Sin as Straying:** Derived from the root `{{H7686}}` meaning "to stray," **mᵉshûwgâh** portrays error not just as a transgression but as a deviation from the right path, a theme echoed elsewhere when the psalmist prays not to "wander from thy commandments" [[Psalms 119:10]].
* **The Persistence of Error:** The connection of `{{H4879}}` with the verb `{{H3885}}` ("remaineth") suggests that the effects of a mistake can lodge or abide with a person, becoming a burden they carry.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4879}}` provides a focused and potent definition of **error** as a personal **mistake**. Its singular use in [[Job 19:4]] encapsulates a profound statement on accountability, where an individual's misstep is a burden that remains uniquely their own. Though rare, **mᵉshûwgâh** offers a clear picture of an error that strays from a path and abides with the one who erred.
TRV