מְבוּכָה
𐤌𐤁𐤅𐤊𐤄
mᵉbûwkâh
H3998 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State of confusion, disorder, or turmoil—especially emotional or existential perplexity resulting from sudden fear, unexpected events, or overwhelming situations. Used to denote not just mental uncertainty but also social chaos or panic in times of crisis.
Semantic Range
confusion, perplexity, panic, turmoil, state of being confounded, existential bewilderment, social disorder
Root / Etymology
From the root בוך (b-w-kh), meaning 'to be confused, bewildered.' מְבוּכָה is a feminine noun derived from this verbal root, expressing the state or result of being confounded or put into disorder.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְבוּכָה occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (see Isa 22:5, Zeph 1:15), appearing in poetic or prophetic descriptions of distressing circumstances. It conveys not just simple confusion, but often a deeply unsettling, chaotic state that combines fear, paralysis, and the inability to act due to external pressures or overwhelming events (such as siege or divine judgment). It differs from other terms for confusion (e.g., מְשָׁאוֹן, 'tumult') by emphasizing the internal, psychological dimension of being confounded rather than merely external disorder. In later Hebrew, it continues to denote a profound perplexity or crisis. English translations often use 'perplexity,' but this can understate the emotional intensity and existential dread associated with the word in its biblical contexts. The term is not frequent, and each occurrence carries shades of both individual and communal disorientation, especially in contexts of collective threat or calamity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בּוּךְ; perplexity; perplexity.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בוך (b-w-kh) — confusion, bewilderment, being confounded
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H943 | בּוּךְ | she was entangled |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3998-01 |
מְבוּכָתָֽ/ם | mevukhatam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their confusion | their bewilderment | 1 |
H3998-02 |
וּ/מְבוּכָ֗ה | umevukhah | HC/Ncfsa |
and confusion | and bewilderment | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3998-02 |
Isaiah 22:5 | וּ/מְבוּכָ֗ה | umevukhah | HC/Ncfsa |
and confusion | and bewilderment |
H3998-01 |
Micah 7:4 | מְבוּכָתָֽ/ם | mevukhatam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their confusion | their bewilderment |