מָחַק
𐤌𐤇𐤒
mâchaq
H4277 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To grind, crush, or pulverize a substance, particularly by rubbing or pounding; to obliterate or erase a physical object through forceful reduction to fragments; the notion most commonly applies to solid materials reduced to powder, dust, or otherwise rendered indistinguishable. The word is primarily attested in contexts relating to the destruction or erasure of physical objects.
Semantic Range
to crush to powder, to grind down, to obliterate an object, to smite so as to remove, (in later Hebrew) to erase writing
Root / Etymology
From the root מחק, which conveys the concept of erasing, obliterating, or pulverizing a substance, frequently through the use of force or abrasion. While the lexical form denotes an action applied to a physical object, the underlying root focuses on the complete removal or destruction of its form or presence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מָחַק occurs rarely in Biblical Hebrew, primarily in poetic or emphatic descriptions of destruction. It is distinct from words such as שָׁבַר (to break), which emphasizes breaking into pieces, or מָחָה (to wipe out, often metaphorically for obliteration). The term may overlap with the sense of grinding or pulverizing (cf. דָּקַק, 'to crush, pulverize'), but מָחַק carries an added nuance of complete obliteration rather than merely reducing to smaller parts. Later Hebrew use shifts more toward the meaning 'to erase' (especially of writing), but this semantic focus is not dominant in biblical usage. In modern Hebrew, the derived noun מָחוֹק means 'deletion' or 'erasure.' Its limited biblical attestation means nuance largely comes from its root and cognate evidence rather than a broad range of textual usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to crush; smite off.
Bantu Hebrew
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מחק (m-ḥ-q) — erase, obliterate, crush, pulverize
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4277-01 |
מָחֲקָ֣ה | machaqah | HVqp3fs |
she crushed | she pulverized | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4277-01 |
Judges 5:26 | מָחֲקָ֣ה | machaqah | HVqp3fs |
she crushed | she pulverized |