מַחֲרָאָה
𐤌𐤇𐤓𐤀𐤄
machărâʼâh
H4280 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A privy, latrine, or waste disposal site, specifically a place designated for the evacuation of human excrement, usually located just outside a building or camp for reasons of sanitation. The term may refer to any structure or area set aside for this purpose in ancient Israelite settlements.
Semantic Range
latrine, privy, outhouse, designated place for excrement, waste disposal site, sink (archaic), draught house (rare English rendering)
Root / Etymology
From the root ח־ר־א (חרא), meaning 'dung, excrement.' The specific form מַחֲרָאָה likely takes the mem-prefix for place nouns (denoting 'place of x'), thus 'place of dung, excrement location.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the ancient Israelite context, the מַחֲרָאָה was not merely a physical structure but an element of ritual and practical purity. Deuteronomy 23:13-14 (Eng. vv. 12-13) outlines instructions for the placement of a latrine outside the main encampment and for covering excrement, reflecting concern for communal sanitation and ritual cleanliness. Similar terminology can be seen in related Semitic languages denoting places for waste. English translations such as 'draught house,' 'latrine,' or 'privy' often do not capture the word's explicit connection to ritual purity or its functional distinction from other waste sites. During the monarchic and post-exilic periods, latrines and designated waste areas are referenced in archaeological remains, showing continuity of the practice. Unlike other Hebrew terms such as שַׁפֵּכָה (waste channel, gutter), מַחֲרָאָה specifically emphasizes a designated site for human excrement, not general refuse.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as חֶרֶא; a sink; draught house.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרא (ḥ-r-ʾ) — dung, excrement, filth, to expel waste
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4280-01 |
ל/מחראות | lmchrvt | HR/Ncfpa |
a latrine | to latrines | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4280-01 |
2 Kings 10:27 | ל/מחראות | lmchrvt | HR/Ncfpa |
a latrine | to latrines |