מַכְאוֹב
makh.ov (H4341)
pain
AI Word Study
# מַכְאוֹב (makh.ov): Pain in Biblical Hebrew The Hebrew word *makhov* appears sixteen times throughout the Hebrew Bible and denotes physical or emotional pain. As a noun, it functions as a straightforward descriptor of human suffering—the sensation of hurt or distress. The word's presence across multiple biblical contexts suggests it was a standard term for expressing the experience of pain without specialized theological connotation, making it accessible language for describing both bodily injury and psychological anguish. The frequency of occurrence—sixteen instances across the entire biblical corpus—indicates this was a common enough concept to merit repeated use, yet not so frequent as to dominate Hebrew vocabulary for suffering. This moderate distribution suggests *makhov* occupied a regular place in describing everyday human experience rather than serving as the primary theological term for discussing suffering as a broader spiritual or philosophical problem. The word's utility in both narrative and poetic contexts would have made it recognizable to Hebrew speakers as a direct, unpretentious term for pain.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who will each know his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread out his hands toward this house;
He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh.
For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.
For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him.
Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted.
Why do you cry over your injury? Your pain is incurable. For the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you.
‘You said, “Woe is me now! For Yahweh has added sorrow to my pain! I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.” ’
Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed! Wail for her! Take balm for her pain. Perhaps she may be healed.
“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look, and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which is brought on me, with which Yahweh has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
“Yahweh is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment. Please hear all you peoples, and see my sorrow. My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.