← H4262 H4264 →

מַחְמָל

𐤌𐤇𐤌𐤋

machmâl

H4263 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חמל to spare, have compassion, show mercy

Definition

An object or person that is precious, dear, or cherished, usually indicating one held in special affection or esteem (as in something beloved or particularly prized). Limited attestation suggests the sense centers on that which is regarded as valuable for emotional or personal reasons.

Semantic Range

precious thing, object of affection, cherished possession, dear one, something spared because of value

Root / Etymology

From the root חמל (ḥ-m-l), meaning 'to spare, have compassion, show mercy,' likely through a nominal pattern indicating the object of compassion or delight. Derivation suggests a concrete noun meaning 'that which someone has affection for or finds precious.' The association with מַחְמָד (machmad, 'desirable thing, treasure') is by phonetic and semantic proximity but not direct etymology.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible (1 Samuel 15:9), where it refers to select livestock spared by Saul as 'all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them,' thus conveying the idea of things held dear or precious. The context stresses selectiveness and a sense of emotional attachment or perceived value, rather than a moral or religious concept. By the post-exilic period, related terms such as מַחְמָד had developed a more generalized sense of 'desirable thing' or even 'beloved,' while מַחְמָל retained connotations of personal dearness or special significance. Standard English translations often render the word too narrowly ('best,' 'precious,' 'choice'); the emotional nuance is better captured by terms like 'dear' or 'cherished.' The word is distinct from חֶמְלָה (chemlah, 'compassion, pity'), which more directly expresses emotion toward persons rather than objects.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָמַל; (by paronomasia with מַחְמָד) delight; properly, sympathy; pitieth.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

חמל (ḥ-m-l) — to spare, have compassion, show mercy

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2538 חָמוּל to Compassioned-one
H2539 חָמוּלִי the Hamulite clansman
H2550 חָמַל he spared
H2551 חֶמְלָה in compassionate sparing of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4263-01 וּ/מַחְמַ֣ל umachemal HC/Ncmsc and the delight cherished-thing of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4263-01 Ezekiel 24:21 וּ/מַחְמַ֣ל umachemal HC/Ncmsc and the delight cherished-thing of
← H4262 Hebrew Lexicon H4264 →