What does מוֹט (yimmôṭ) mean in the Bible?
מוֹט (yimmôṭ): Loss of stability or secure position; foundational undermining rather than mere surface trembling or movement.
Hebrew · H4131
מוֹט
To waver ; by implication, to slip , shake , fall
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מוֹט H4131
Pronunciation yimmôṭ
What does מוֹט (yimmôṭ) mean in the Bible?
מוֹט (yimmôṭ): Loss of stability or secure position; foundational undermining rather than mere surface trembling or movement.
Full entry for מוֹט (H4131) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4131?
The BSB source-word alignment has 38 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include be shaken (9), be moved (6), . . . (2), and cannot support himself (1), are shaken (1).
Where does מוֹט (yimmôṭ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Leviticus 25:35. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (24), Isaiah (6), Proverbs (4), 1 Chronicles (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It be shaken 9× Psalms 15:5, Psalms 16:8, Psalms 21:7, Psalms 30:6
be moved 6× 1 Chronicles 16:30, Psalms 10:6, Psalms 46:5, Psalms 93:1
. . . 2× Job 41:23, Isaiah 24:19
and cannot support himself 1× Leviticus 25:35
are shaken 1× Psalms 82:5
are toppled 1× Psalms 46:2
be broken 1× Isaiah 54:10
be toppled 1× Isaiah 41:7
be uprooted 1× Proverbs 12:3
crumble 1× Psalms 46:6
fall 1× Psalms 140:10
I fall 1× Psalms 13:4
is shaken violently 1× Isaiah 24:19
is slipping 1× Psalms 94:18
it is quaking 1× Psalms 60:2
may be shaken 1× Isaiah 54:10
slipped 1× Psalms 17:5
slips 1× Psalms 38:16
they bring down 1× Psalms 55:3
those stumbling 1× Proverbs 24:11
to be moved 1× Psalms 104:5
topple 1× Isaiah 40:20
who gives way 1× Proverbs 25:26
will slip 1× Deuteronomy 32:35
Show sample aligned rows
Leviticus 25:35 וּמָ֥טָה to and cannot support himself Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Deuteronomy 32:35 תָּמ֣וּט to will slip Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 1 Chronicles 16:30 תִּמּֽוֹט׃ to be moved Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Job 41:23 יִמּֽוֹט׃ to . . . Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 10:6 אֶמּ֑וֹט to be moved Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular Psalms 13:4 אֶמּֽוֹט׃ to I fall Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular Psalms 15:5 יִמּ֣וֹט to be shaken Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 16:8 אֶמּֽוֹט׃ to be shaken Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular Psalms 17:5 נָמ֥וֹטּוּ to slipped Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Psalms 21:7 יִמּֽוֹט׃ to be shaken Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Leviticus 25:35
Aligned rows 38
Books represented 7
Leviticus 1 Deuteronomy 1 1 Chronicles 1 Job 1 Psalms 24 Proverbs 4 Isaiah 6
Source forms
יִמּֽוֹט׃ 4x yim·mō·wṭ Job 41:23, Psalms 21:7, Proverbs 12:3, Isaiah 40:20
אֶמּֽוֹט׃ 3x ’em·mō·wṭ Psalms 13:4, Psalms 16:8, Psalms 62:6
אֶמּ֥וֹט 2x ’em·mō·wṭ Psalms 30:6, Psalms 62:2
יִמּ֑וֹט 2x yim·mō·wṭ Psalms 112:6, Proverbs 10:30
תִּמּ֑וֹט 2x tim·mō·wṭ Psalms 46:5, Psalms 96:10
תִּמּֽוֹט׃ 2x tim·mō·wṭ 1 Chronicles 16:30, Psalms 93:1
אֶמּ֑וֹט 1x ’em·mō·wṭ Psalms 10:6
בְּמ֥וֹט 1x bə·mō·wṭ Psalms 38:16
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 9x Job 41:23, Psalms 15:5, Psalms 21:7, Psalms 112:6
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular 6x Psalms 10:6, Psalms 13:4, Psalms 16:8, Psalms 30:6
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 5x 1 Chronicles 16:30, Psalms 46:5, Psalms 93:1, Psalms 96:10
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Psalms 82:5, Psalms 140:10
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 2x Deuteronomy 32:35, Isaiah 54:10
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 2x Psalms 60:2, Psalms 94:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular 1x Leviticus 25:35
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 1x Proverbs 24:11
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Loss of stability or secure position; foundational undermining rather than mere surface trembling or movement.
Strong's H4131
Lexical occurrences 39 verses Word forms 4 forms 35 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 10:30 Source Gloss
to waver ; by implication, to slip , shake , fall
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Loss of stability or secure position; foundational undermining rather than mere surface trembling or movement.
to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall BDB: totter Usage: be carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in decay, × exceedingly, fall(-ing down), be (re-) moved, be ready, shake, slide, slip.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 4 Aligned forms 35
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 23×
Imperfect Isa 40:20 · Isa 41:7 · Job 41:15 · Prov 10:30 · Prov 12:3 · Ps 15:5 · Ps 21:8 · Ps 112:6 · Ps 125:1 · Ps 10:6 · Ps 13:5 · Ps 16:8 · Ps 30:7 · Ps 62:3 · Ps 62:7 · 1Chr 16:30 22×
Perfect Ps 17:5 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 9×
Imperfect Deut 32:35 · Isa 54:10 3×
Perfect Ps 60:4 · Ps 94:18 · Ps 46:7 3×
Infinitive absolute Isa 24:19 1×
Participle active Prov 25:26 1×
Infinitive construct Ps 55:23 1×
Hithpolel 1×
Perfect Isa 24:19 1×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Imperfect Ps 55:4 1×
Jussive Ps 140:11 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to be moved, shaken, or overthrown
Be shaken; moved; totter; refers to spiritual and existential security
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 39 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מוֹט is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The term emphasizes stability and firmness in life. Proverbs 10:30
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain