Lexical Summary madhebah: Treasure, Gold Original Word: מַדְהֵבָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance golden city Perhaps from the equivalent of dhab; goldmaking, i.e. Exactness -- golden city. see HEBREW dhab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee marhebah. Brown-Driver-Briggs מַרְהֵבָה noun feminine boisterous, raging, behaviour; — Isaiah 14:4; so read (for ᵑ0 מַדְהֵבָה) Thes and most, after ᵐ5; "" נגשׂ (compare Isaiah 3:5). רהג (√ of following; Arabic Topical Lexicon Translation and Range of Meaning Although rendered variously as “oppressor,” “agitator,” or “golden city,” the term centers on the idea of aggressive, pride-filled domination. The nuance captures both the inner arrogance that drives tyranny and the outward extraction of wealth and security from weaker peoples. Occurrence in Scripture Isaiah 14:4 is the sole attestation: “How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!” (Berean Standard Bible). The word stands at the head of the prophetic taunt against the king of Babylon, framing the entire oracle. Historical Background Isaiah ministers during the rise of the Neo-Assyrian power, yet he foresees Babylon’s ascendancy and fall. In the Near Eastern world, Babylon symbolized ostentatious wealth, forced tribute, and religious arrogance. The single use of מַדְהֵבָה embodies that reputation. Whether the word pictures Babylon as a “gold-laden city” or as a ruthless “oppressor,” both senses fit the empire that drained conquered nations of their treasures while boasting in its own splendor (compare Isaiah 39:1-6; Habakkuk 2:5-8). Themes of Oppression and Pride 1. Arrogance invites divine reversal. Isaiah 14:4 introduces a song that culminates in the fall of the proud (Isaiah 14:12-15). The term therefore becomes shorthand for every self-exalting power that imagines itself secure. Prophetic and Canonical Connections • The word resonates with the “taunt” genre later echoed by Habakkuk 2:6-20 against Babylon and Revelation 18:1-19 against “Babylon the Great.” Christological and Eschatological Significance Jesus declares in Luke 4:18 that He has been anointed “to proclaim liberty to the captives,” echoing Isaiah’s liberation theme. The final abolition of every מַדְהֵבָה-like power reaches its climax in Revelation 19:1-3 when heaven rejoices over the downfall of the last global oppressor. Thus Isaiah 14:4 foreshadows both Christ’s first-coming deliverance from sin’s tyranny and His second-coming judgment on human pride. Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching: The word exposes the spiritual pathology of pride and exploitation; sermons can press hearers to repent of subtler forms of domination—financial, relational, or ecclesial. Summary מַדְהֵבָה functions as a potent emblem of Babylonian pride and rapacity. Its single biblical appearance anchors a sweeping prophecy that affirms God’s unfailing commitment to humble the lofty, liberate the oppressed, and establish everlasting righteousness through the reign of His Messiah. Forms and Transliterations מַדְהֵבָֽה׃ מדהבה׃ maḏ·hê·ḇāh maḏhêḇāh madheVahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 14:4 HEB: נֹגֵ֔שׂ שָׁבְתָ֖ה מַדְהֵבָֽה׃ KJV: ceased! the golden city ceased! INT: the oppressor has ceased city 1 Occurrence |
    |
is raise (dust, a tumult, conflict, etc.), Lane).