Lexical Summary machmud or machmod: Delight, desirable thing, precious thing, object of desire Original Word: מַחְמֻד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pleasant thing Or machmuwd {makh-mood'}; from chamad; desired; hence, a valuable -- pleasant thing. see HEBREW chamad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chamad Definition a desirable or precious thing NASB Translation precious things (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַחְמֹד] noun [masculine] desirable, precious thing; — מַחֲמֻדֶיהָ Lamentations 1:7, מַחֲמוֺדֵיהֶם Lamentations 1:11 Kt (Qr מַחֲמַדֵּיהֶם). Perhaps ׳מַחֲמַדּ to be read in both; compare Sta§ 273 a. I. חמה (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Entry: מַחְמֻד (Strong’s Hebrew 4262)Overview of the Word’s Sense Although appearing only twice, מַחְמֻד gathers into a single noun the ideas of “precious delight,” “desired treasure,” and “object of loveliest worth.” When the prophets chose this term, they were pointing to more than material valuables; they were identifying whatever the people of God once cherished as evidence of the Lord’s favor. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Lamentations 1:7 – “Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old.” Both lines appear in the opening dirge that mourns the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., when Babylon stripped the city of wealth, sanctuary vessels, leadership, and security—all once regarded as proofs of divine blessing. Historical Setting Jeremiah’s lament was composed after the Babylonian army razed Jerusalem, demolished Solomon’s temple, and led her nobles into exile. The national catastrophe exposed Judah’s rebellion (Lamentations 1:18) and unmasked the fragility of every “delight” apart from covenant faithfulness. The treasures now lying in enemy hands included the gold and bronze articles dedicated for worship (2 Kings 25:13–15) and the agricultural abundance once enjoyed in the land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). The word מַחְמֻד therefore stands as a witness to the reversal of Israel’s fortunes: prized objects became plunder, and what once testified to divine favor became evidence of divine judgment. Theological Significance 1. Perishable Delights. Mַחְמֻד underscores that earthly delights, though good gifts, are temporary. The prophet’s grief is sharpened not merely by loss but by the realization that sin had cheapened the nation’s desire, turning what should have led to worship into an idol of security (Deuteronomy 8:11–14). Christological Implications The stripping of Jerusalem’s מַחְמֻד foreshadows the humiliation Christ would endure, “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Where Judah’s delights were taken because of her sin, the Lord voluntarily laid aside His visible glory to redeem sinners. He is now the “precious cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:6), the everlasting מַחְמֻד that cannot be plundered. Intertextual Echoes • Isaiah 64:11 speaks of “our beautiful and glorious temple,” using another form from the same root group, showing how temple worship was the quintessential delight. These texts align with Lamentations by presenting divine presence, not gold or grain, as the believer’s supreme treasure. Ministry and Discipleship Applications 1. Diagnose Disordered Loves. Churches and believers are called to identify any substitute delights that might eclipse devotion to Christ (Matthew 6:21). Devotional Reflection Reading Lamentations 1 invites believers to remember both their own past delights and the ultimate delight of God’s presence. When earthly treasures fade, the covenant Lord remains. In Christ, every loss of מַחְמֻד is a summons to value the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). Forms and Transliterations מַחֲמַדֵּיהֶ֛ם מַחֲמֻדֶ֔יהָ מחמדיה מחמדיהם ma·ḥă·mad·dê·hem ma·ḥă·mu·ḏe·hā machamaddeiHem machamuDeiha maḥămaddêhem maḥămuḏehāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Lamentations 1:7 HEB: וּמְרוּדֶ֔יהָ כֹּ֚ל מַחֲמֻדֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ NAS: all her precious things That were from the days KJV: and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days INT: and homelessness all her precious after were from Lamentations 1:11 2 Occurrences |
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protect, guard, RSK 136 LagBN 156; DlPr 91; BAS ii. 43 compare an Assyrian ê mû, surround, guard, compare Modern Syriac 
id.; Ethiopic 
III. 1 means contract affinity, be joined by affinity, probably denominative)