Lexical Summary mekittah: Crushing, destruction Original Word: מְכִתָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bursting From kathath; a fracture -- bursting. see HEBREW kathath NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kathath Definition something crushed or pulverized, crushed fragments NASB Translation pieces (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מְכִתָּה] noun feminine the crushed or pulverized = collective crushed fragments; — singular suffix מְכִתָּתוֺ Isaiah 30:14 (result of כָּתוּת, va).Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery מְכִתָּה (mekittah) conveys the picture of something violently crushed or shattered beyond recovery. The underlying image is not a gentle crack but a pulverizing blow that reduces a vessel to dust-like fragments. In Scripture the figure speaks to divine judgment that utterly dismantles human pride, exposing its uselessness and leaving no piece large enough to serve even the humblest purpose. Biblical Occurrence Isaiah 30:14 is the single occurrence: “It will be broken like a potter’s jar, shattered so ruthlessly that not a shard will be found among its fragments to scoop coals from a hearth or to draw water from a cistern” (Berean Standard Bible). The prophecy addresses Judah’s reliance on Egypt rather than on the LORD. Their diplomatic scheme is likened to a clay jar—it appears serviceable, yet one decisive blow from God leaves only powder. Historical and Cultural Background Pottery was the disposable container of the ancient Near East. While indispensable for daily life, it was also fragile and easily replaced. Isaiah’s contemporaries would recognize the finality of a jar smashed beyond all usefulness; even its shards could no longer aid in household chores such as carrying embers or ladling water. The illustration strikes at the heart of eighth-century B.C. political strategies: alliances that seemed sturdy were, in heaven’s assessment, brittle and doomed. Theological Significance 1. Judgment on False Security: Mekittah underscores the completeness of divine judgment on self-sufficient plans (compare Proverbs 16:18; Jeremiah 17:5). Pastoral and Ministerial Application • Warning Against Pragmatism: Congregations tempted to rest on strategies, finances, or cultural favor are reminded that anything built apart from obedience can be reduced to mekittah in a moment (Matthew 7:26-27). Prophetic and Eschatological Echoes Revelation 2:27 echoes Isaiah’s pottery imagery: Christ “will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery.” Mekittah thus anticipates final judgment when every rebellious structure collapses. Yet, for those in Christ, there remains the promise of vessels made anew for honorable use (2 Timothy 2:21). Related Terms and Concepts • חָתַת (to shatter) – the verbal root expressing the action behind mekittah. See Also Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 1:28; Jeremiah 19:1-13; Romans 9:20-23. Forms and Transliterations בִמְכִתָּתוֹ֙ במכתתו ḇim·ḵit·tā·ṯōw ḇimḵittāṯōw vimchittaToLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 30:14 HEB: וְלֹֽא־ יִמָּצֵ֤א בִמְכִתָּתוֹ֙ חֶ֔רֶשׂ לַחְתּ֥וֹת NAS: will not be found among its pieces To take KJV: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd INT: not will not be found pieces A sherd to take 1 Occurrence |
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