Lexical Summary mechittah: Terror, destruction, dismay Original Word: מְחִתָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance destruction, dismaying, ruin, terror From chathah; properly, a dissolution; concretely, a ruin, or (abstractly) consternation -- destruction, dismaying, ruin, terror. see HEBREW chathah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chathath Definition terror, destruction, ruin NASB Translation object of terror (1), ruin (7), terror (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְחִתָּה noun feminine terror, destruction, ruin, in poetry (especially Proverbs) — absolute ׳מ Proverbs 10:14 8t.; construct מְחִתַּת Proverbs 10:15; Proverbs 14:28; — 1. a. terror, Isaiah 54:14 ("" עשֶׁק), Jeremiah 17:17; = object of terror, Jeremiah 48:39 ("" שְׂחֹק). b. dismay, Proverbs 21:15 (opposed to שִׂמְחָה). 2 ruin, of strongholds Psalm 89:41; רָזוֺן ׳בְּאֶפֶס לְאֹם מ Proverbs 14:28 without people is ruin to a prince (opposed to הַדְרַתמֶֿלֶךְ); דַּלִּים ׳מ רֵישָׁם Proverbs 10:15 the ruin of the poor (is) their poverty; as consequence of evil-doing לְפֹעֲלֵי אָוֶן ׳מ Proverbs 10:29 (opposed to מָעוֺז); of fools לֿוֺ׳מִּי כְסִיל מ Proverbs 18:7, compare Proverbs 13:3 (opposed to שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֺ); קְרֹבָה ׳מִּי אֱוִיל מ Proverbs 10:14 the mouth of a fool is imminent ruin. חֵת, חִתִּי see above Topical Lexicon Overview Mekhittah designates catastrophic collapse or paralysing dread, whether experienced by an individual, a city, or an entire nation. The term appears eleven times and is variously translated in the Berean Standard Bible as “destruction,” “ruin,” “terror,” “rubble,” and “horror.” Each occurrence underscores the moral certainty that rebellion, folly, and injustice ultimately bring their own downfall, whereas righteousness is a sure refuge. Wisdom Literature: Moral Cause and Effect Seven of the eleven occurrences fall within Proverbs, where Mekhittah functions as the inevitable outcome of foolishness. • Speech (Proverbs 10:14; 13:3; 18:7) – “Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction” (Proverbs 10:14). Words that disregard truth and restraint set in motion ruin that rebounds on the speaker himself. In every case, the proverbist shows that destructive consequences are woven into the fabric of God’s moral universe; sinners need no external invader, for their own conduct ushers in ruin. Royal Lament in Psalm 89 “You have broken down all his walls; You have reduced his strongholds to rubble” (Psalm 89:40). Mekhittah here pictures the shattering of Davidic fortifications during divine chastisement. The word amplifies the psalm’s tension between God’s eternal covenant with David and the temporary ruin brought by corporate disobedience. The lament anticipates a restoration in which the same God who levels strongholds will rebuild them. Prophetic Warnings and Promises Jeremiah employs Mekhittah twice. The prophet pleads, “Do not become a terror to me; You are my refuge in the day of disaster” (Jeremiah 17:17), revealing the believer’s paradoxical dependence on the very God who sends judgment. Later he foretells Moab’s downfall: “Moab will become a derision and a terror to all around him” (Jeremiah 48:39), affirming that nations scoffing at God’s purposes cannot escape ruin. Isaiah reverses the motif for Zion’s future: “In righteousness you will be established… for terror will be far removed; it will not come near you” (Isaiah 54:14). Covenant faithfulness expels Mekhittah and secures abiding peace, a promise reaching its fullest realization in the Messianic kingdom. Theological Themes 1. Retributive Justice – Mekhittah is never random; it flows from divine holiness that rewards good and punishes evil. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching and Teaching – Use the recurring link between folly and ruin to press home repentance and the cultivation of godly speech. Related Biblical Connections Mekhittah aligns with New Testament warnings such as “sudden destruction” in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 and with promises like Revelation 21:4, where every cause of dread is banished. The word thereby contributes to the unified biblical witness that sin breeds terror, but redemption in the Lord brings unshakable peace. Forms and Transliterations וְלִמְחִתָּ֖ה וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה וּמִ֨מְּחִתָּ֔ה ולמחתה ומחתה וממחתה לִמְחִתָּ֑ה למחתה מְחִתַּ֖ת מְחִתַּ֥ת מְחִתָּ֥ה מְחִתָּה־ מְחִתָּה׃ מחתה מחתה־ מחתת lim·ḥit·tāh limchitTah limḥittāh mə·ḥit·tāh mə·ḥit·tāh- mə·ḥit·taṯ mechittah mechitTat məḥittāh məḥittāh- məḥittaṯ ū·mə·ḥit·tāh ū·mim·mə·ḥit·tāh umechitTah ūməḥittāh uMimechitTah ūmimməḥittāh velimchitTah wə·lim·ḥit·tāh wəlimḥittāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 89:40 HEB: שַׂ֖מְתָּ מִבְצָרָ֣יו מְחִתָּה׃ NAS: his strongholds to ruin. KJV: his strong holds to ruin. INT: have brought his strongholds to ruin Proverbs 10:14 Proverbs 10:15 Proverbs 10:29 Proverbs 13:3 Proverbs 14:28 Proverbs 18:7 Proverbs 21:15 Isaiah 54:14 Jeremiah 17:17 Jeremiah 48:39 11 Occurrences |
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