Lexical Summary mitshalah: Prosperity, success Original Word: מַצְהָלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance neighing From tsahal; a whinnying (through impatience for battle or lust) -- neighing. see HEBREW tsahal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsahal Definition a neighing NASB Translation neighing (1), neighings (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מִצְהָלָה] noun feminine neighing; — plural construct קוֺל מִצְהֲלוֺת אַבִּירָיוֺ Jeremiah 8:16 ("" נַחְרַת סוּסָיוֺ); suffix מִצְהֲלוֺתַיִךְ Jeremiah 13:27 of idolatrous Judah, under figure of mare desiring stallion ("" נִאֻפַיִךְ, זִמַּת זְנוּתֵךְ). Topical Lexicon Definition and Imagery מַצְהָלָה conveys the vigorous snorting or neighing of a horse. The word evokes the audible, forceful breath of an animal ready to charge—an image that communicates urgency, power, and, in context, moral and national unrest. Occurrences in Scripture Jeremiah 8:16 and Jeremiah 13:27 both employ מַצְהָלָה: Historical Context Jeremiah prophesied during the final decades of Judah’s monarchy, warning of Babylon’s imminent invasion. Cavalry, a growing component of Near-Eastern warfare, struck terror by speed and overwhelming noise. The prophet seizes that familiar sound—the resonant snort before the charge—to portray both the advance of Babylonian forces (8:16) and Judah’s own brazen pursuit of sin (13:27). Prophetic Significance 1. Divine Warning: The snorting travels “from Dan,” Israel’s northernmost point, signaling judgment sweeping southward to Jerusalem. The auditory image underscores the certainty and reach of punishment. Theological Insights • God Communicates through Sense Experience: He uses familiar sounds to arrest attention and confirm His word (compare Amos 1:2; Joel 2:1). Ministry Application • Preaching: The vivid metaphor invites contemporary proclamation that unchecked sin still summons unavoidable consequences. Relevant Cross-References Job 39:20; Psalm 20:7; Proverbs 21:31; Isaiah 5:26-30; Zechariah 10:3; Revelation 19:11-14. Summary מַצְהָלָה functions as a sensory bridge between Judah’s sin and God’s chastening hand. The prophetic use of a horse’s snort reverberates through history, reminding the Church that the Lord still warns, confronts, and calls His people to repent before judgment thunders at the gate. Forms and Transliterations וּמִצְהֲלוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ ומצהלותיך מִצְהֲל֣וֹת מצהלות miṣ·hă·lō·wṯ miṣhălōwṯ mitzhaLot ū·miṣ·hă·lō·w·ṯa·yiḵ ūmiṣhălōwṯayiḵ umitzhaloTayichLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 8:16 HEB: סוּסָ֗יו מִקּוֹל֙ מִצְהֲל֣וֹת אַבִּירָ֔יו רָעֲשָׁ֖ה NAS: At the sound of the neighing of his stallions KJV: at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; INT: of his horses the sound of the neighing of his stallions quakes Jeremiah 13:27 2 Occurrences |
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