מְכִתָּה
𐤌𐤊𐤕𐤄
mᵉkittâh
H4386 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A breaking, shattering, or fracturing; refers to a violent breaking apart or crushing, typically used of physical destruction such as breaking in pieces, smashing, or shattering of objects (e.g., idols, walls, or bones). Figuratively, can indicate ruin, collapse, or violent breaking down.
Semantic Range
violent breaking, shattering, smashing, crushing, destruction, fracture, ruin, bursting
Root / Etymology
From the root כתת (k-t-t), meaning 'to crush, to beat, to shatter.' The noun מְכִתָּה (mᵉkittâh) is formed to denote the state or result of crushing or shattering.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְכִתָּה appears relatively rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is used in contexts where the emphasis is on violent physical destruction, particularly of inanimate objects such as idols (e.g., Ezekiel 6:4,6). The term may at times overlap with words like שֶׁבֶר (shever, 'breaking, fracture'), but מְכִתָּה often carries a stronger nuance of violent shattering or irreversible breaking. Its usage concentrates in exilic and post-exilic prophetic literature, with significance regarding the removal or annihilation of objects of worship. English translations typically render it as 'breaking' or 'smashing,' which can obscure the term's emphasis on violent, total shattering. Later rabbinic Hebrew shifts to using related compounds, and in post-biblical times Greek and English renderings sometimes use 'destruction' or 'smashing' in translation traditions, with 'bursting' or 'fracture' also adopted. The word does not carry the connotation of healing or repair, but always of ruin.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּתַת; a fracture; bursting.
Bantu Hebrew
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כתת (k-t-t) — to crush, shatter, beat, break in pieces
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4386-01 |
בִ/מְכִתָּת/וֹ֙ | vimekhitato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
in its fragments | in his shattering | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4386-01 |
Isaiah 30:14 | בִ/מְכִתָּת/וֹ֙ | vimekhitato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
in its fragments | in his shattering |