מַהֲלֻמָּה
𐤌𐤄𐤋𐤌𐤄
mahălummâh
H4112 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A wound or mark resulting from a physical blow; particularly the visible evidence (such as a bruise, welt, or stripe) left by a violent striking action. Used concretely for the injury itself or, metonymically, to refer to the infliction of such injury.
Semantic Range
blow resulting in injury, stripe, wound, physical mark left by a strike, bruise, mark or spot caused by violence
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root הלם (halam), meaning 'to strike, beat, smite.' The form מַהֲלֻמָּה (mahălummâh) bears the mem-prefix, commonly marking nouns denoting result or product of an action—the inflicted wound or mark resulting from a blow.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Occurs only in Genesis 4:23 (Lamech's speech), denoting a physical wound or injury inflicted in a violent altercation. The usage points to a visible, physical mark rather than an abstract or metaphorical condition. Later Hebrew favors other terms (e.g., מַכָּה 'makah') for 'wound' or 'blow.' This term is rare if not unique in the Hebrew Bible and lacks the extended metaphorical or legal nuance of some cognate terms. In Greek translation traditions, it is often rendered as 'bruise' or 'wound.' English translations may use 'stripe,' 'wound,' or 'injury,' but 'stripe' in older English is somewhat archaic and does not fully capture the sense of the inflicted mark. The term is not attached to specific social or legal notions of retributive violence, nor does it refer to ritual or cultic concepts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from הָלַם; a blow; stripe, stroke.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
הלם (Helem) — to strike, to beat, to hammer
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1986 | הָלַם | They struck me |
| H1987 | הֶלֶם | Smiter |
| H1988 | הֲלֹם | to this place |
| H1989 | הַלְמוּת | to a striking-hammer-of |
| H3095 | יַהֲלֹם | and strike-hardened gem |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4112-01 |
לְֽ/מַהֲלֻמ֥וֹת | lemahalumot | HR/Ncfpa |
for blows | for strike-wounds | for blows | 1 |
H4112-02 |
וּ֝/מַהֲלֻמ֗וֹת | umahalumot | HC/Ncfpa |
and stripes | and blow-wounds | and stripes | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4112-01 |
Proverbs 18:6 | לְֽ/מַהֲלֻמ֥וֹת | lemahalumot | HR/Ncfpa |
for blows | for strike-wounds | for blows |
H4112-02 |
Proverbs 19:29 | וּ֝/מַהֲלֻמ֗וֹת | umahalumot | HC/Ncfpa |
and stripes | and blow-wounds | and stripes |