Lexical Summary midcheh: Ruin, downfall, stumbling Original Word: מִדְחֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ruin From dachah; overthrow -- ruin. see HEBREW dachah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dachah Definition means or occasion of stumbling NASB Translation ruin (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִדְחֶה noun masculine means or occasion of stumbling, Proverbs 26:28 ׳מֶּהחָֿלָק יַעֲשֶׂה מ ("" לְשׁוֺןשֶֿׁקֶר יִשְׂנָא דַכָּו). Topical Lexicon Overview מִדְחֶה (midcheh) denotes the downfall or ruin brought about by destructive speech. Its single occurrence, Proverbs 26:28, frames the word within wisdom literature’s warning against deceitful tongues and manipulative flattery, portraying verbal sin as an active force that pushes a neighbor to collapse. Biblical Usage Proverbs 26:28 reads, “A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Here “works ruin” is מִדְחֶה. The term intensifies the verse’s chiastic structure: hatred expressed by falsehood culminates in the ruin of its victims, while “a flattering mouth” completes the cycle of destruction. The word is a hapax legomenon, underscoring the singular gravity Scripture assigns to this particular kind of downfall. Literary Setting in Proverbs Chapter 26 gathers proverbs on fools, sluggards, and mischief-makers. Verses 23–28 form a tight unit that exposes hypocrisy—potsherds glazed with silver (26:23), burning lips with an evil heart (26:23), and enemies who disguise themselves with their lips (26:24). מִדְחֶה crowns the section by revealing the inevitable end of such duplicity: relational, moral, and communal collapse. Root Connections in the Hebrew Canon Derived from the verb דָּחָה (dachah, “to push, thrust down,” Strong’s 1760), the noun pictures a forceful overthrow. Related verbal uses reinforce the metaphor: “I was pushed so hard that I was falling, but the LORD helped me” (Psalm 118:13). The shared imagery links physical shoving with the invisible shove of corrupt words. Theological Themes 1. The destructive power of speech: Midcheh demonstrates that words are not neutral—they can engineer catastrophe (compare James 3:5-6). Inter-Canonical Parallels • Romans 16:18 warns that “by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive,” echoing the dynamic of Proverbs 26:28. Historical Reception Rabbinic commentators regarded מִדְחֶה as proof that lashon hara (evil speech) inflicts tangible harm. Early Christian writers, such as John Chrysostom, drew on Proverbs 26 to warn preachers against seeking applause through flattering oratory, lest they ruin their hearers. Implications for Christian Ministry • Pastoral Integrity: Shepherds must renounce flattery (1 Thessalonians 2:5) and model truthful speech, guarding congregations from midcheh. Preaching and Teaching Aids 1. Illustrate with the contrast between Peter’s Spirit-filled boldness (Acts 2:14-36) and Ananias and Sapphira’s deceptive speech (Acts 5:1-11). Summary מִדְחֶה crystallizes the Bible’s estimation of deceptive speech: it is not merely misguided; it is a force that topples lives. Wisdom’s antidote is integrity of heart and mouth, rooted in the fear of the LORD—truth that shields the community from ruin. Forms and Transliterations מִדְחֶֽה׃ מדחה׃ miḏ·ḥeh midCheh miḏḥehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 26:28 HEB: חָ֝לָ֗ק יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה מִדְחֶֽה׃ NAS: mouth works ruin. KJV: mouth worketh ruin. INT: flattering works ruin 1 Occurrence |
    |