Lexical Summary mug: To melt, dissolve, faint, waste away Original Word: מוּג Strong's Exhaustive Concordance consume, dissolve, be fainthearted, melt away, make soft A primitive root; to melt, i.e. Literally (to soften, flow down, disappear), or figuratively (to fear, faint) -- consume, dissolve, (be) faint(-hearted), melt (away), make soft. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to melt NASB Translation disheartened (1), dissolve (2), dissolved (2), melt (3), melted (2), melted away (4), melts (1), soften (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מוּג verb melt (ᵑ7 מוּג Ithpe`el, Psalm 46:7; Psalm 107:26; compare Arabic  surge (of the sea), Qor 18:99;  a wave); **in view of prevailing figurative use, and of Arabic  ( ) be in tumult, commotion, of sea, people, be agitated, perplexed, it is perhaps dubious whether melt is original meaning; be moved, agitated is usually possibly, and even Amos 9:13; Psalm 65:11 (both late), where (especially Amos) moistening is suggested, this may be perhaps derived from agitating, loosening, dissolving. — Qal Imperfect3feminine singular תָּמוּג 46:7; וַתָּמוֺג Amos 9:5; 2masculine singular suffix וַתְּמוּגֵ֫נוּ Isaiah 64:6 (but read probably וַתְּמַגְּנֵנוּ, see [ מָגַן] p.171 above, and compare Di > Du תְּמַגְּנֵנוּ); Infinitive לָמוּג Ezekiel 21:20; — 1 melt, subject אֶרֶץ, at touch of ׳י Amos 9:5; at voice of ׳י Psalm 46:7; = faint (of heart), Ezekiel 21:20. 2 transitive cause to melt Isaiah 64:6 (but see above) Niph`al Perfect נָמוֺג Nahum 2:7 2t.; 3 plural נָמֹ֫גוּ Exodus 15:15 3t.; Participle plural נְמֹגִים Psalm 75:4; — melt away, figurative for be helpless, disorganized (through terror, etc.) Exodus 15:15 (compare context), Joshua 2:9,24; 1 Samuel 14:16 (compare We Dr), Jeremiah 49:23, compare Nahum 2:7; Isaiah 14:31; Psalm 75:4. Po>l. soften, dissolve, active: only Imperfect 2 masculine singular suffix (subject God): בִּרְבִיבִם תְּמֹגְגֶנָּה Psalm 65:11 thou softenest it [the earth] with showers; figurative, = dissipate וּתְמֹגְגֵ֫נִי Job 30:22 — We reads וַיְמֹגֵג Habakkuk 3:6 for וַיְמֹדֶד, see מדד Po`el Hithpo`el Perfect 3 plural הִתְמֹגָָֽגוּ Nahum 1:5; Imperfect3feminine singular תִּתְמוֺגָ֑ג Psalm 107:26; 3feminine plural תִּתְמוֺגַגְנָה Amos 9:13; — melt, subject hills (before ׳י) Nahum 1:5; subject נֶפֶשׁ Psalm 107:26 (in terror); hyperb. for flow Amos 9:13 (of fertile hills, "" הִטִּ֫יפוּ הֶהָרִים). I. מוד (√ of following; apparently secondary form of מדד, compare BaNB § 190 c, and Arabic Topical Lexicon OverviewThe verb מוּג appears seventeen times in the Old Testament to paint scenes of hearts, nations, mountains, and very soil losing firmness in the face of divine power or providential circumstance. Whether depicting terror before the LORD’s advancing salvation or the softening of ground for harvest, the word consistently contrasts human or created instability with God’s unshakeable rule. Principal Settings of Use 1. National and Military Collapse The term surfaces when enemy peoples realize the futility of resisting the LORD. In the Song of the Sea, “the dwellers of Canaan will melt away” (Exodus 15:15), foreshadowing the conquest. Rahab twice repeats the same testimony about Canaanite terror (Joshua 2). When Saul’s watchmen observe the Philistine garrison “melting away in every direction” (1 Samuel 14:16), the text stresses the LORD’s intervention more than Israel’s sword. Later prophets apply the word to Philistia, Aram, and others, portraying political disintegration under divine judgment. 2. Cosmic and Eschatological Upheaval Creation itself appears to lose cohesion when the LORD speaks: “Nations rage, kingdoms crumble; the earth melts when He lifts His voice” (Psalm 46:6). Such language magnifies His sovereignty and anticipates the final shaking of heaven and earth (Hebrews 12:26–27). 3. Personal Anguish and Human Frailty Job laments, “You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; You toss me about in the storm” (Job 30:22), reflecting existential disorientation. Seafarers in Psalm 107 find their “courage melted in their anguish,” underscoring the insecurity of life apart from divine deliverance. 4. Fertility, Providence, and Blessing The same verb describes soil prepared for abundance: “You soften it with showers and bless its growth” (Psalm 65:10). Amos turns to eschatological plenty—“The mountains will drip with sweet wine” (Amos 9:13)—using dissolution imagery to picture overflowing covenant blessing. 5. Structural Collapse in Judgment Nineveh’s palace “collapses” as the river gates open. The verb evokes both literal destruction and the sudden loss of civic stability. Theological Themes • Fear of the LORD: From Canaanite kings to modern hearers, the word witnesses to the terror evoked when God acts in salvation and judgment. Historical Backdrop The earliest occurrences cluster around the Exodus and conquest era, confirming Israel’s theology of holy war. Prophetic uses span the Assyrian threat (Nahum), Babylonian crisis (Jeremiah, Ezekiel), and post-exilic hope (Amos), demonstrating the continuity of God’s dealings with nations. Ministry Significance • Preaching: The passages supply vivid language to contrast human instability with divine stability, encouraging repentance and trust. Intertextual Connections Moistening or melting imagery appears with other Hebrew roots (e.g., נָמֵס) and is echoed in New Testament warnings of cosmic dissolution (2 Peter 3:10–12). Together they affirm that creation’s permanence rests on God’s word. Christological Reflection The Gospels record nature trembling before Christ—seas raging, mountains quaking at the crucifixion. These scenes fulfill the Old Testament pattern: instability signals the presence of the greater Joshua who conquers through redemption, not merely through military might. Practical Application When circumstances feel fluid or foundations seem to dissolve, believers recall that the One who causes the earth to melt also “makes wars cease to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 46:9). Hearts steadied by this truth can face both judgment and blessing with steadfast hope. Forms and Transliterations הִתְמֹגָ֑גוּ התמגגו וַתְּמוּגֵ֖נוּ וַתָּמ֔וֹג וּ֝תְמֹגְגֵ֗נִי ותמגגני ותמוג ותמוגנו לָמ֣וּג למוג נְֽמֹגִ֗ים נָמ֖וֹג נָמֹ֑גוּ נָמֹ֕גוּ נָמֹ֛גוּ נָמֽוֹג׃ נמגו נמגים נמוג נמוג׃ תְּ֝מֹגְגֶ֗נָּה תִּתְמוֹגַֽגְנָה׃ תִתְמוֹגָֽג׃ תָּמ֥וּג תמגגנה תמוג תתמוגג׃ תתמוגגנה׃ hiṯ·mō·ḡā·ḡū hitmoGagu hiṯmōḡāḡū lā·mūḡ laMug lāmūḡ nā·mō·ḡū nā·mō·wḡ naMog naMogu nāmōḡū nāmōwḡ nə·mō·ḡîm nemoGim nəmōḡîm tā·mūḡ taMug tāmūḡ tə·mō·ḡə·ḡen·nāh temogeGennah təmōḡəḡennāh ṯiṯ·mō·w·ḡāḡ tiṯ·mō·w·ḡaḡ·nāh titmoGag titmoGagnah ṯiṯmōwḡāḡ tiṯmōwḡaḡnāh ū·ṯə·mō·ḡə·ḡê·nî utemogeGeni ūṯəmōḡəḡênî vattaMog vattemuGenu wat·tā·mō·wḡ wat·tə·mū·ḡê·nū wattāmōwḡ wattəmūḡênūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 15:15 HEB: יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ רָ֑עַד נָמֹ֕גוּ כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י NAS: of Canaan have melted away. KJV: of Canaan shall melt away. INT: grips trembling have melted All the inhabitants Joshua 2:9 Joshua 2:24 1 Samuel 14:16 Job 30:22 Psalm 46:6 Psalm 65:10 Psalm 75:3 Psalm 107:26 Isaiah 14:31 Isaiah 64:7 Jeremiah 49:23 Ezekiel 21:15 Amos 9:5 Amos 9:13 Nahum 1:5 Nahum 2:6 17 Occurrences |
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stretch, extend, also prolong, make to continue).