4651. mappal
Lexical Summary
mappal: Fall, downfall, overthrow

Original Word: מַפָּל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mappal
Pronunciation: map-pahl'
Phonetic Spelling: (map-pawl')
KJV: flake, refuse
NASB: folds, refuse, strong
Word Origin: [from H5307 (נָפַל - fall)]

1. a falling off, i.e. chaff
2. also something pendulous, i.e. a flap

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
flake, refuse

From naphal; a falling off, i.e. Chaff; also something pendulous, i.e. A flap -- flake, refuse.

see HEBREW naphal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from naphal
Definition
refuse, hanging parts
NASB Translation
folds (1), refuse (1), strong (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[מַמָּל] noun masculineJob 41:15 refuse, hanging parts; —

1 fallings, refuse, construct מַמַּל בַּר Amos 8:6 the refuse of wheat.

2 plural construct מַמְּלֵי בְשָׂרוֺ Job 41:15 the hanging (falling, drooping) parts of his flesh (of crocodile).

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Nuance

Derived from the verb “to fall,” מַפָּל (mapal) denotes what has fallen away—flakes, refuse, chaff, or any fragment that drops off the main body. In both occurrences the word retains this core sense while serving very different literary and theological purposes.

Old Testament Usage

Job 41:23

Amos 8:6

Only two inspired texts employ מַפָּל. Together they contrast invincible strength with moral collapse, using the same term to portray both the firmness of Leviathan’s “flakes” and the worthlessness of grain “refuse” sold by the unscrupulous.

Literary Setting in Job

In Job 41 the Lord challenges Job’s understanding of creation through a majestic portrait of Leviathan. “The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable” (Job 41:23). The “flakes” (mapal) of this creature do not fall away; they are locked together, underscoring an unassailable structure that no human can dismantle. The image magnifies divine sovereignty: even the parts that ought to be most vulnerable remain unshaken. God alone could design such coherence.

Socio-Economic Setting in Amos

Amos exposes merchants who “buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat” (Amos 8:6). Here מַפָּל is the refuse swept from the threshing floor. By mixing worthless chaff into grain, traders commit fraud and exploit the powerless. The prophet links this injustice to cosmic judgment (Amos 8:9–10). What has merely “fallen off” becomes evidence of a fallen society.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Authority: In Job, מַפָּל reinforces the Creator’s unmatched power by displaying a creature whose smallest portions are immovable.
2. Human Accountability: In Amos, the same word exposes corruption. What is supposed to be discarded is sold as food, violating both honesty (Leviticus 19:35–36) and compassion for the poor (Deuteronomy 24:19).
3. Consistency of Scripture: The term bridges wisdom literature and prophetic indictment, presenting a unified moral universe where God governs creation and judges exploitation.

Ministry Implications

• Integrity in Commerce: Modern believers must refuse practices that resemble selling the “refuse of the wheat.” Transparent dealings honor the Lord who sees hidden chaff.
• Reverence for God’s Power: Leviathan’s immovable “flakes” invite worship. If fallen fragments are firm at God’s command, how much more secure is His covenant?
• Advocacy for the Vulnerable: Amos calls the church to defend those whom society treats as expendable. Ministries that combine mercy with justice embody the prophetic burden.

Christological Perspective

Jesus Christ embodies both the strength pictured in Job and the justice demanded in Amos. As the undefeatable One (Revelation 5:5) He protects His people with unbreakable “armor” (Ephesians 6:10–17). As the righteous Judge (Acts 17:31) He condemns deceit and champions the oppressed. Through the cross, worthless “refuse” is redeemed and built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4–5).

Practical Reflection

The dual imagery of מַפָּל warns against allowing moral fragments to accumulate in our lives. When small failings are left unchecked, they become chaff that the Lord will expose. Conversely, God can bind our broken pieces as firmly as Leviathan’s flakes, forging steadfast character by His grace.

Thus, the brief but potent appearance of מַפָּל challenges believers to marvel at divine craftsmanship, practice economic righteousness, and trust the One who judges and restores all that has fallen.

Forms and Transliterations
וּמַפַּ֥ל ומפל מַפְּלֵ֣י מפלי map·pə·lê mappəlê mappeLei ū·map·pal umapPal ūmappal
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Job 41:23
HEB: מַפְּלֵ֣י בְשָׂר֣וֹ דָבֵ֑קוּ
NAS: The folds of his flesh
KJV: The flakes of his flesh
INT: the folds of his flesh are joined

Amos 8:6
HEB: בַּעֲב֣וּר נַעֲלָ֑יִם וּמַפַּ֥ל בַּ֖ר נַשְׁבִּֽיר׃
NAS: And [that] we may sell the refuse of the wheat?
KJV: [yea], and sell the refuse of the wheat?
INT: because of of sandals the refuse corn may sell

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4651
2 Occurrences


map·pə·lê — 1 Occ.
ū·map·pal — 1 Occ.

4650
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