What does מְחִתָּה (mechittah) mean in the Bible?
מְחִתָּה (mechittah): Dissolution or ruin that induces psychological terror; destruction manifesting both physical devastation and paralyzing fear.
Hebrew · H4288
מְחִתָּה
Properly, a dissolution ; concretely, a ruin , or (abstractly) consternation
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מְחִתָּהH4288
Pronunciationmechittah
What does מְחִתָּה (mechittah) mean in the Bible?
מְחִתָּה (mechittah): Dissolution or ruin that induces psychological terror; destruction manifesting both physical devastation and paralyzing fear.
Full entry for מְחִתָּה (H4288) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4288?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a terror (1), and horror (1), but a terror (1), but destruction (1), destruction (1).
Where does מְחִתָּה (mechittah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Psalms 89:40. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (7), Jeremiah (2), Isaiah (1), Psalms (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 Ita terror1×Jeremiah 17:17
and horror1×Jeremiah 48:39
but a terror1×Proverbs 21:15
but destruction1×Proverbs 10:29
destruction1×Proverbs 10:14
invites his own ruin1×Proverbs 13:3
is his ruin1×Proverbs 18:7
is the ruin1×Proverbs 10:15
ruin1×Proverbs 14:28
Terror [will be far removed]1×Isaiah 54:14
to rubble1×Psalms 89:40
Show sample aligned rows
Psalms 89:40מְחִתָּה׃toto rubbleNoun - feminine singularProverbs 10:14מְחִתָּ֥הtodestructionNoun - feminine singularProverbs 10:15מְחִתַּ֖תtois the ruinNoun - feminine singular constructProverbs 10:29וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗הtobut destructionConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularProverbs 13:3מְחִתָּה־toinvites his own ruinNoun - feminine singularProverbs 14:28מְחִתַּ֥תtoruinNoun - feminine singular constructProverbs 18:7מְחִתָּה־tois his ruinNoun - feminine singularProverbs 21:15וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗הtobut a terrorConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularIsaiah 54:14וּמִ֨מְּחִתָּ֔הtoTerror [will be far removed]Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singularJeremiah 17:17לִמְחִתָּ֑הtoa terrorPreposition | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowPsalms 89:40
Aligned rows11
Books represented4
Psalms1Proverbs7Isaiah1Jeremiah2
Source forms
וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה2xū·mə·ḥit·tāhProverbs 10:29, Proverbs 21:15
מְחִתָּה־2xmə·ḥit·tāh-Proverbs 13:3, Proverbs 18:7
וְלִמְחִתָּ֖ה1xwə·lim·ḥit·tāhJeremiah 48:39
וּמִ֨מְּחִתָּ֔ה1xū·mim·mə·ḥit·tāhIsaiah 54:14
לִמְחִתָּ֑ה1xlim·ḥit·tāhJeremiah 17:17
מְחִתָּ֥ה1xmə·ḥit·tāhProverbs 10:14
מְחִתָּה׃1xmə·ḥit·tå̄hPsalms 89:40
מְחִתַּ֖ת1xmə·ḥit·taṯProverbs 10:15
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular4xPsalms 89:40, Proverbs 10:14, Proverbs 13:3, Proverbs 18:7
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular2xProverbs 10:29, Proverbs 21:15
Noun - feminine singular construct2xProverbs 10:15, Proverbs 14:28
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular1xJeremiah 48:39
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular1xIsaiah 54:14
Preposition | Noun - feminine singular1xJeremiah 17:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Dissolution or ruin that induces psychological terror; destruction manifesting both physical devastation and paralyzing fear.
Source Gloss
properly, a dissolution ; concretely, a ruin , or (abstractly) consternation
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Dissolution or ruin that induces psychological terror; destruction manifesting both physical devastation and paralyzing fear.
properly, a dissolution; concretely, a ruin, or (abstractly) consternation BDB: terror Usage: destruction, dismaying, ruin, terror.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
terror, ruin, or sudden destruction
destruction or calamity
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מְחִתָּה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The term emphasizes the destructive consequences that follow foolish speech.Proverbs 10:14
The term shows the destructive consequences of opposing God's moral order.Proverbs 10:29
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.