### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉshiççâh**, represented by `{{H4933}}`, refers to **plunder**, **booty**, or **spoil**. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from a root meaning to plunder, this term signifies the state of being despoiled or the goods taken in such an act, often in the context of military defeat or divine judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical prophecy, `{{H4933}}` is consistently used to describe the consequences of sin and disobedience. God gives Jacob over for a **spoil** because the people would not walk in His ways or be obedient to His law [[Isaiah 42:24]]. This judgment is depicted as God forsaking His inheritance and delivering them into the hand of their enemies, to become a prey and a **spoil** [[2 Kings 21:14]]. The term also describes the fate of Israel's enemies, with God promising that those who spoil His people will themselves become a **spoil** [[Jeremiah 30:16]]. In this way, the word functions as a tangible sign of both divine judgment and eventual restoration.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of plunder and its consequences:
* `{{H957}}` **baz** (booty, prey, spoil): This term is frequently used in parallel with `{{H4933}}` to emphasize the totality of the plunder. A people can become both a prey `{{H957}}` and a **spoil** `{{H4933}}` to their enemies [[2 Kings 21:14]].
* `{{H8154}}` **shâçâh** (to plunder, destroyer, rob, spoil): This verb describes the action that results in something becoming a spoil. The people of Israel are described as a people spoiled `{{H8154}}` and robbed [[Isaiah 42:22]].
* `{{H7628}}` **shᵉbîy** (captivity, prisoners, booty): This term connects the plundering to the fate of the people themselves. Those who spoil Israel will go into **captivity** `{{H7628}}`, linking the loss of possessions with the loss of freedom [[Jeremiah 30:16]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4933}}` is tied to God's covenant and judgment.
* **Consequence of Sin:** Becoming a **spoil** is presented as a direct result of Israel's sin and failure to obey God's law `{{H8451}}`. The reason Jacob was given for a **spoil** `{{H4933}}` was because "we have sinned" [[Isaiah 42:24]].
* **Divine Sovereignty in Judgment:** The act of being plundered is not a random event but occurs when God delivers His people into the hand `{{H3027}}` of their enemies `{{H341}}`. This happens when God forsakes `{{H5203}}` the remnant of His inheritance [[2 Kings 21:14]].
* **Instrument of Divine Justice:** The term is also used to promise a future reversal. God declares that the adversaries `{{H6862}}` who devour Israel will themselves be devoured, and those that spoil them will become a **spoil** `{{H4933}}`, demonstrating God's ultimate justice [[Jeremiah 30:16]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4933}}` is more than just a word for plunder. It is a powerful theological term illustrating the tangible consequences of disobedience within God's covenant. It signifies a state of vulnerability and loss that comes from divine judgment, where a nation's people and wealth are given over to their enemies ([[2 Kings 21:14]], [[Zephaniah 1:13]]). Ultimately, the concept of becoming a **spoil** also serves as a promise of God's sovereign justice, where He will turn the tables on oppressors ([[Jeremiah 30:16]], [[Habakkuk 2:7]]).
TRV