### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nihyâh**, represented by `{{H5093}}`, is a rare term for a **doleful** lamentation. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in scripture. As the feminine form of `{{H5092}}` `nᵉhîy`, it carries the core meaning of an elegy or wailing but intensifies it to describe a state of profound and grievous sorrow.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H5093}}` is in [[Micah 2:4]], in a prophecy of judgment. The verse states that a parable will be taken up against the people, and they will "lament with a **doleful** lamentation." This profound grief is a direct response to being "utterly spoiled" `{{H7703}}` and seeing their `portion` `{{H2506}}` and `fields` `{{H7704}}` divided and taken away. The word is part of a poetic phrase that emphasizes the extreme nature of their sorrow at the loss of their inheritance.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of this intense sorrow:
* `{{H5092}}` **nᵉhîy** (lamentation, wailing): This is the masculine noun from which `{{H5093}}` is derived. It appears alongside it in [[Micah 2:4]] to create the phrase "doleful lamentation." It is also used to describe the "bitter weeping" for lost children [[Jeremiah 31:15]].
* `{{H5091}}` **nâhâh** (lament, wail): This is the root verb, meaning to groan or bewail. It is the action that produces the "doleful lamentation" in [[Micah 2:4]]. It is also used when the house of Israel "lamented after the LORD" [[1 Samuel 7:2]].
* `{{H4912}}` **mâshâl** (parable, proverb): This term introduces the lament in [[Micah 2:4]]. The "doleful lamentation" is part of a prophetic `parable`, suggesting the people's tragic fate would become a cautionary tale.
* `{{H7703}}` **shâdad** (spoil, destroy): This word provides the reason for the lamentation. The people cry out, "We be utterly **spoiled**" [[Micah 2:4]], directly linking their grief to the complete devastation they face.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5093}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful usage.
* **The Sorrow of Judgment:** The word exists to articulate the specific kind of grief that results from God's judgment. The lament is not for a natural loss but for the consequences of sin, where God has `changed` `{{H4171}}` the `portion` `{{H2506}}` of His people [[Micah 2:4]].
* **An Emphatic Expression of Loss:** By using both the masculine `{{H5092}}` and feminine `{{H5093}}` forms together, the text in [[Micah 2:4]] creates a superlative sense of sorrow. This linguistic doubling underscores the totality of the people's devastation and the irreplaceable nature of what was lost.
* **Prophetic Warning:** The term is used within a `parable` `{{H4912}}` that will be taken up "in that day" `{{H3117}}`, framing the lamentation as a future reality. It serves as a stark warning that the actions of the people will culminate in a sorrow so complete it will become their defining story.
### Summary
In summary, **nihyâh** `{{H5093}}` is far more than a simple word for sadness. It is a highly specific and rare term that signifies a uniquely **doleful** and intense lamentation. Its singular appearance in [[Micah 2:4]] powerfully captures the profound grief that accompanies divine judgment, specifically the complete and utter loss of a people's God-given inheritance. It serves as a solemn reminder of the deep sorrow that follows disobedience.
TRV