מֵחַ
𐤌𐤇
mêach
H4220 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Fat, the substance of fatty tissue of an animal, particularly that which surrounds organs; by extension, a choice or rich portion, often associated with offerings or symbols of abundance. In sacrificial contexts, refers specifically to certain portions of animal fat reserved for ritual use. May be used figuratively to denote abundance or richness.
Semantic Range
fat (animal tissue), fat surrounding organs, choice or rich portion (by extension), material used in sacrificial rituals, figurative abundance
Root / Etymology
From the root מָחָה (m-ḥ-h), which likely means 'to be soft' or 'to wipe, smear.' The noun derives from the idea of the soft, greasy parts of animal tissue, i.e., fat. The connection to 'smearing/greasing' relates to the physical properties of fat. Some suggest a link to Akkadian maḫû (to be greasy, to anoint), though this is not certain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מֵחַ appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in the context of animal anatomy and sacrificial regulations (e.g., Leviticus 3:3, 3:9, 3:14). It is especially associated with the fat portions (not the generic term חֵלֶב) which are dedicated in specific offerings. The distinction between מֵחַ (fat, especially around organs) and חֵלֶב (general fat, or the choicest/fat of offerings) is subtle yet present in ritual contexts, as י. Milgrom and others have noted. English Bible translations often render מֵחַ simply as 'fat' or 'fatling,' but this may obscure its technical and ritual nuance. Over time, the term's usage became specialized within priestly literature, with little to no evidence of semantic shift into later Hebrew or Second Temple usage, where חֵלֶב becomes the dominant term for ritual fat. When the KJV or later translations render this as 'fatling' (an animal of particular richness), this reflects interpretive tradition, not necessarily the lexical sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָחָה in the sense of greasing; fat; figuratively, rich; fatling (one).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מחה (m-ḥ-h) — to be soft, to wipe, to smear
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4229 | מָחָה | I will wipe out |
| H4239 | מְחִי | and striking-ram of |
| H4287 | מַחַת | Machath |
| H4289 | מַחְתָּה | the coal-removal pan |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4220-01 |
מֵחִ֖ים | mechim | HNcmpa |
of fatlings | fat portions | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4220-01 |
Isaiah 5:17 | מֵחִ֖ים | mechim | HNcmpa |
of the fat ones | fat portions |
H4220-01 |
Psalms 66:15 | מֵחִ֣ים | mechim | HNcmpa |
of fatlings | fat portions |