Lexical Summary machmad: Desire, precious, beloved, desirable thing Original Word: מַחְמָד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beloved, desire, goodly, lovely, pleasant thing From chamad; delightful; hence, a delight, i.e. Object of affection or desire -- beloved, desire, goodly, lovely, pleasant (thing). see HEBREW chamad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chamad Definition desire, desirable thing NASB Translation desirable (2), desire (3), pleasant (1), precious ones (1), precious things (2), precious treasures (1), treasures (1), valuable (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַחְמַד noun masculine desire, desirable thing — absolute מַחְמַד Hosea 9:6; construct id. 1 Kings 20:6 3t. Ezekiel; plural מַחֲמַדַּים Songs 5:16; construct מַחֲמַדֵּי Lamentations 2:4; Hosea 9:16; suffix מַחֲמַדַּי Joel 4:5; מַחֲמַדֵּינוּ Isaiah 64:10; מַחֲמַדֶּיהָ2Chronicles 36:19; Lamentations 1:10; מַחֲמַדֵּיהֶם Lamentations 1:11Qr (see also מַחְמֹד); — desirable, precious things ׳כלימֿ2Chronicles 36:19; singular collective Hosea 9:6; plural Joel 4:5; Isaiah 64:10; Lamentations 1:10,11 (Qr), בִּטְנָם ׳מ Hosea 9:16; see especially plural intensive כֻּלּוֺ מַחֲמַדִּים Songs 5:16 all of him is delightfulness ("" מַמְתַֿקִּים); elsewhere מַחְמַד עינים desire of the eyes, i.e. that in which the eyes take delight 1 Kings 20:6; Ezekiel 24:16 (of prophet's wife), Ezekiel 24:21; Ezekiel 24:25; plural Lamentations 2:4. מַחְמַד [מַחְמֹד, מַחֲמֻדִים] see חמד [מַחְמָל] see חמל. מַחְמֶ֫צֶת see I. חמץ. מַחֲנֶה, מַחֲנִהדָֿן, מַחֲנַיִם see חנה. מַחֲנָק see חנק, מַחְסֶה, מַחֲסֶה see חסה. מַחְסוֺם see חסם. מַחְסוֺר see חסר מַחְסֵיָה see חסה. Topical Lexicon OverviewThe noun מַחְמָד (mah·mad) denotes that which is cherished, delightful, desirable, or precious, whether an object, a person, or an experience. Its occurrences trace a movement from material treasure to relational affection and, ultimately, to the glory of God’s dwelling among His people. Core Themes • Precious possessions and wealth Usage in Historical Narrative 1 Kings 20:6 records Ben-hadad’s threat to seize “all that you consider precious,” exposing Israel’s vulnerability when covenant loyalty is lacking. The word underscores the heart-level attachment people can have to material goods; when God’s protection is withdrawn, even the most guarded treasures are easily plundered. Poetic and Wisdom Literature In Song of Songs 5:16 the Shulammite exclaims, “He is altogether lovely,” expressing personal adoration in marital imagery. The term moves beyond objects to celebrate the beloved himself—a picture that later biblical writers will use to portray the covenant love between the Lord and His people (compare Ephesians 5:25-27). Prophetic Literature: Judgment and Mourning Temple and treasures Personal loss as prophetic sign National fertility and future Military devastation The Sanctuary as Ultimate Desire Across the prophets, מַחְמָד becomes a title for the temple—the meeting place between God and His people. Its destruction is therefore the severest blow: the loss of wealth, beauty, security, and, symbolically, the presence of God Himself. Yet the very intensity of grief points to the magnitude of what will be restored when the Lord brings His people back (compare Haggai 2:7, where “the Desire of Nations” will fill the latter house with glory). Messianic and Redemptive Foreshadowing The movement from earthly treasure to relational delight anticipates the New Covenant revelation of the Messiah: Thus Jesus Christ embodies and surpasses every earlier instance of מַחְמָד, offering Himself as the imperishable delight of His people. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Stewardship and detachment: Earthly valuables are subject to loss when not subordinated to covenant faithfulness. 2. Affection for God’s house: Love for the gathered presence of the Lord should exceed all other loves, shaping worship and church life today. 3. Suffering as sign-act: Personal trials may serve wider redemptive purposes, calling believers to trust God beyond cherished gifts. 4. Gospel proclamation: Presenting Christ as the true and lasting “desire” addresses the human quest for worth and beauty, inviting sinners to trade perishable pleasures for eternal treasure. Practical Application for Believers • Evaluate what presently functions as your “desire of the eyes” and surrender it to Christ’s lordship. In Scripture, מַחְמָד charts the journey from fleeting earthly loveliness to the unfading beauty of fellowship with God. To cherish Him above all is both the duty and the delight of every redeemed heart. Forms and Transliterations וּמַֽחֲמַדַּי֙ ומחמדי מַחְמַ֣ד מַחְמַ֤ד מַחְמַ֥ד מַחֲמַדִּ֑ים מַחֲמַדֵּ֖ינוּ מַחֲמַדֵּ֥י מַחֲמַדֵּי־ מַחֲמַדֶּ֑יהָ מַחֲמַדֶּ֖יהָ מחמד מחמדי מחמדי־ מחמדיה מחמדים מחמדינו ma·ḥă·mad·dê ma·ḥă·mad·dê- ma·ḥă·mad·de·hā ma·ḥă·mad·dê·nū ma·ḥă·mad·dîm machamaddei machamadDeiha machamadDeinu machamadDim machMad maḥ·maḏ maḥămaddê maḥămaddê- maḥămaddehā maḥămaddênū maḥămaddîm maḥmaḏ ū·ma·ḥă·mad·day umachamadDai ūmaḥămaddayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 20:6 HEB: וְהָיָה֙ כָּל־ מַחְמַ֣ד עֵינֶ֔יךָ יָשִׂ֥ימוּ NAS: and whatever is desirable in your eyes, KJV: and it shall be, [that] whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, INT: shall be and whatever is desirable your eyes will take 2 Chronicles 36:19 Songs 5:16 Isaiah 64:11 Lamentations 1:10 Lamentations 2:4 Ezekiel 24:16 Ezekiel 24:21 Ezekiel 24:25 Hosea 9:6 Hosea 9:16 Joel 3:5 12 Occurrences |
    |