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מַעֲמָק

𐤌𐤏𐤌𐤒

maʻămâq

H4615 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עמק to be deep, to be profound

Definition

A location or area characterized by great physical depth, such as a deep valley, ravine, or abyss; occasionally used metaphorically for profound or inaccessible places. In Hebrew texts, primarily denotes a literal geographical depression or a region sunk below its surroundings, with possible metaphorical extension to states of profoundness or extremity.

Semantic Range

deep valley, ravine, abyss, deep place (literal); depths (metaphorical), place of distress or extremity, profound or inaccessible location

Root / Etymology

From the root עָמַק (ʿ-m-q), meaning 'to be deep' or 'to be profound.' The word מַעֲמָק is a masculine noun formation, likely referring to something characterized by depth. The root conveys the idea of depth either physically or abstractly, but in this nominal form most commonly signifies a place or feature with depth.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַעֲמָק appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in poetic or liturgical contexts (e.g., Psalms 130:1), where it refers to the depths, either of the sea, the earth, or metaphorically to a place of distress or extremity from which one cries out. The term may overlap with other Hebrew words for deep places such as תְּהוֹם (tehom, 'the deep, abyss') but is distinct in often emphasizing a vertical aspect, such as a deep valley as opposed to an expanse of chaotic waters. In post-biblical Hebrew and later interpretation, מַעֲמָק gained metaphorical resonance for profound spiritual or psychological depth. Standard English translations usually render it as 'depths' or 'deep,' which may miss the specificity of a deep physical place as opposed to an abstract concept. In narrative books, the word is rare and does not consistently designate a particular geographical feature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָמַק; a deep; deep, depth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עמק (ʿ-m-q) — to be deep, to be profound

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5987 עָמוֹק deep
H5994 עֲמִיק the deep things
H6009 עָמַק they became deep
H6010 עֵמֶק your deep valleys
H6011 עֹמֶק to depth

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4615-02 מַֽעֲמַקֵּי maamaqey HNcmpc depths-of depths of 1
H4615-04 וּ/מִ/מַּֽעֲמַקֵּי umimaamaqey HC/R/Ncmpc and from the depths of and from depths of 1
H4615-01 בְּ/מַֽעֲמַקֵּי bemaamaqey HR/Ncmpc in the depths in depths of 1
H4615-05 בְ/מַעֲמַקֵּי vemaamaqey HR/Ncmpc into depths of in depths of 1
H4615-03 מִ/מַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים mimaamaqim HR/Ncmpa Out of the depths from deep places 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4615-02 Isaiah 51:10 מַֽעֲמַקֵּי maamaqey HNcmpc depths-of depths of
H4615-01 Ezekiel 27:34 בְּ/מַֽעֲמַקֵּי bemaamaqey HR/Ncmpc in the depths in depths of
H4615-05 Psalms 69:3 בְ/מַעֲמַקֵּי vemaamaqey HR/Ncmpc into depths of in depths of
H4615-04 Psalms 69:15 וּ/מִ/מַּֽעֲמַקֵּי umimaamaqey HC/R/Ncmpc and from the depths of and from depths of
H4615-03 Psalms 130:1 מִ/מַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים mimaamaqim HR/Ncmpa Out of the depths from deep places
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