Lexical Summary miphreqeth: Neck, nape Original Word: מִפְרֶקֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance neck From paraq; properly, a fracture, i.e. Joint (vertebrae) of the neck -- neck. see HEBREW paraq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom paraq Definition neck NASB Translation neck (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַפְרֶ֫קֶת] noun feminine neck (dividing head from body); — suffix וַתִּשָׁבֵר מַפְרַקְתּוֺ 1 Samuel 4:18. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Physical Imagery The noun מִפְרֶקֶת designates the juncture of the spine and skull—the vulnerable “back of the neck.” Unlike the more common צוָּאר used for the front or side of the neck, מִפְרֶקֶת focuses on the hinge-point where head and body connect. In Hebrew thought this spot represents both frailty and finality: once that joint is broken, life ceases. Occurrence in Scripture The word appears once, in 1 Samuel 4:18. Although unique, its solitary use is strategic, anchoring a moment of national crisis and divine judgment. Narrative Context: The Death of Eli After news that the Philistines captured the ark, Scripture records: “As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years” (1 Samuel 4:18). The word מַפְרַקְתּוֹ (“his neck-joint”) underscores four realities: 1. Physical reality: A literal broken neck ends Eli’s life. Symbolic and Theological Insights Neck imagery elsewhere often conveys submission or stubbornness (Genesis 49:8; Deuteronomy 31:27). With מִפְרֶקֶת the Bible moves from metaphor to anatomy: the proud priestly line literally snaps. The passage affirms several doctrines: • Divine sovereignty—Yahweh’s word against Eli’s house comes to pass in precise detail. Historical and Cultural Background City gates in the ancient Near East functioned as courtrooms. Eli’s “seat by the side of the gate” denotes official judicial authority. Falling from that place dramatizes the loss of legal and spiritual order. Archaeological findings from Iron Age Israel confirm that wooden benches were fixed to stone gate-chambers; a backward fall would land a heavy elder on packed earth or stone—more than enough force to fracture the cervical joint of an aged, weighty man. Ministerial Application 1. Weight of leadership: Spiritual leaders carry responsibility that, if neglected, can crush both themselves and those they serve (James 3:1). Intertextual Echoes Though מִפְרֶקֶת itself is rare, its conceptual thread runs forward: Isaiah warns of a “stiff neck” (Isaiah 48:4), and Jesus invites the weary to exchange harsh yokes for His gentle one (Matthew 11:29). The broken neck of Eli anticipates the humility required in Christ’s disciples—self-reliance must snap so that dependence on the Lord may live. Summary מִפְרֶקֶת, while occurring only once, punctuates a pivotal biblical scene, marrying anatomical precision with theological depth. Eli’s shattered neck-joint memorializes the consequences of neglected holiness and highlights the indispensable union between faithful leadership and the glory of God. Forms and Transliterations מַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙ מפרקתו mafrakTo map̄·raq·tōw map̄raqtōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 4:18 HEB: הַשַּׁ֗עַר וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר מַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת כִּֽי־ NAS: the gate, and his neck was broken KJV: of the gate, and his neck brake, INT: the gate was broken and his neck died for 1 Occurrence |
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