4288. mechittah
Berean Strong's Lexicon
mechittah: Terror, destruction, dismay

Original Word: מְחִתָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mechittah
Pronunciation: mekh-it-taw'
Phonetic Spelling: (mekh-it-taw')
Definition: Terror, destruction, dismay
Meaning: a dissolution, a ruin, consternation

Word Origin: Derived from the root חָתַת (chathath), meaning "to be shattered" or "to be dismayed."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent in the Strong's Concordance, the concept of fear and terror can be related to Greek words such as φόβος (phobos - G5401), meaning "fear" or "terror."

Usage: The Hebrew word "mechittah" is used to convey a sense of terror, destruction, or dismay. It often describes the emotional and physical state of being overwhelmed by fear or the impending doom that comes from divine judgment or enemy attack. The term is used to express the profound impact of fear and the resulting chaos or ruin.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near Eastern context, fear and terror were common experiences due to frequent warfare, natural disasters, and divine judgments. The Israelites, like their neighbors, understood these experiences as manifestations of divine displeasure or as consequences of moral and spiritual failings. The concept of "mechittah" would resonate deeply with a people who lived in a world where security was fragile and the threat of destruction was ever-present.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chathath
Definition
terror, destruction, ruin
NASB Translation
object of terror (1), ruin (7), terror (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מְחִתָּה noun feminine terror, destruction, ruin, in poetry (especially Proverbs) — absolute ׳מ Proverbs 10:14 8t.; construct מְחִתַּת Proverbs 10:15; Proverbs 14:28; —

1. a. terror, Isaiah 54:14 ("" עשֶׁק), Jeremiah 17:17; = object of terror, Jeremiah 48:39 ("" שְׂחֹק).

b. dismay, Proverbs 21:15 (opposed to שִׂמְחָה).

2 ruin, of strongholds Psalm 89:41; רָזוֺן ׳בְּאֶפֶס לְאֹם מ Proverbs 14:28 without people is ruin to a prince (opposed to הַדְרַתמֶֿלֶךְ); דַּלִּים ׳מ רֵישָׁם Proverbs 10:15 the ruin of the poor (is) their poverty; as consequence of evil-doing לְפֹעֲלֵי אָוֶן ׳מ Proverbs 10:29 (opposed to מָעוֺז); of fools לֿוֺ׳מִּי כְסִיל מ Proverbs 18:7, compare Proverbs 13:3 (opposed to שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֺ); קְרֹבָה ׳מִּי אֱוִיל מ Proverbs 10:14 the mouth of a fool is imminent ruin.

חֵת, חִתִּי see above

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
destruction, dismaying, ruin, terror

From chathah; properly, a dissolution; concretely, a ruin, or (abstractly) consternation -- destruction, dismaying, ruin, terror.

see HEBREW chathah

Forms and Transliterations
וְלִמְחִתָּ֖ה וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה וּמִ֨מְּחִתָּ֔ה ולמחתה ומחתה וממחתה לִמְחִתָּ֑ה למחתה מְחִתַּ֖ת מְחִתַּ֥ת מְחִתָּ֥ה מְחִתָּה־ מְחִתָּה׃ מחתה מחתה־ מחתת lim·ḥit·tāh limchitTah limḥittāh mə·ḥit·tāh mə·ḥit·tāh- mə·ḥit·taṯ mechittah mechitTat məḥittāh məḥittāh- məḥittaṯ ū·mə·ḥit·tāh ū·mim·mə·ḥit·tāh umechitTah ūməḥittāh uMimechitTah ūmimməḥittāh velimchitTah wə·lim·ḥit·tāh wəlimḥittāh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Psalm 89:40
HEB: שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃
NAS: his strongholds to ruin.
KJV: his strong holds to ruin.
INT: have brought his strongholds to ruin

Proverbs 10:14
HEB: וּפִֽי־ אֱ֝וִיל מְחִתָּ֥ה קְרֹבָֽה׃
NAS: of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
KJV: of the foolish [is] near destruction.
INT: the mouth of the foolish ruin hand

Proverbs 10:15
HEB: קִרְיַ֣ת עֻזּ֑וֹ מְחִתַּ֖ת דַּלִּ֣ים רֵישָֽׁם׃
NAS: is his fortress, The ruin of the poor
KJV: city: the destruction of the poor
INT: city his strong the ruin of the poor is their poverty

Proverbs 10:29
HEB: דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֑ה וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
NAS: to the upright, But ruin to the workers
KJV: to the upright: but destruction [shall be] to the workers
INT: the way of the LORD ruin to the workers of iniquity

Proverbs 13:3
HEB: פֹּשֵׂ֥ק שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו מְחִתָּה־ לֽוֹ׃
NAS: his lips comes to ruin.
KJV: his lips shall have destruction.
INT: opens his lips to ruin

Proverbs 14:28
HEB: וּבְאֶ֥פֶס לְ֝אֹ֗ם מְחִתַּ֥ת רָזֽוֹן׃
NAS: of people is a prince's ruin.
KJV: of people [is] the destruction of the prince.
INT: the dearth of people ruin prince's

Proverbs 18:7
HEB: פִּֽי־ כְ֭סִיל מְחִתָּה־ ל֑וֹ וּ֝שְׂפָתָ֗יו
NAS: mouth is his ruin, And his lips
KJV: mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips
INT: mouth A fool's is his ruin and his lips are the snare

Proverbs 21:15
HEB: עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
NAS: for the righteous, But is terror to the workers
KJV: judgment: but destruction [shall be] to the workers
INT: the exercise of justice is terror to the workers of iniquity

Isaiah 54:14
HEB: לֹ֣א תִירָ֔אִי וּמִ֨מְּחִתָּ֔ה כִּ֥י לֹֽא־
NAS: for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near
KJV: for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near
INT: you will not fear terror for it will not

Jeremiah 17:17
HEB: לִ֖י לִמְחִתָּ֑ה מַֽחֲסִי־ אַ֖תָּה
NAS: Do not be a terror to me; You are my refuge
KJV: Be not a terror unto me: thou [art] my hope
INT: terror are my refuge in

Jeremiah 48:39
HEB: מוֹאָ֛ב לִשְׂחֹ֥ק וְלִמְחִתָּ֖ה לְכָל־ סְבִיבָֽיו׃
NAS: a laughingstock and an object of terror to all
KJV: be a derision and a dismaying to all them about
INT: Moab A laughingstock and an object to all around

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4288
11 Occurrences


lim·ḥit·tāh — 1 Occ.
mə·ḥit·tāh — 4 Occ.
mə·ḥit·taṯ — 2 Occ.
ū·mə·ḥit·tāh — 2 Occ.
ū·mim·mə·ḥit·tāh — 1 Occ.
wə·lim·ḥit·tāh — 1 Occ.
















4287
Top of Page
Top of Page