מַחְמָד
mach.mad
desire
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "machmad" (H4261) is defined as "desire." It falls within the semantic domain of Emotion & Attitude, indicating its connection to feelings and mental states. This word is used 13 times in the Bible, suggesting its importance in conveying a particular idea or concept. In its usage, "machmad" appears to refer to a strong and often intense longing or craving for something. It may imply a sense of yearning or eagerness, and could be directed towards a person, a thing, or an experience. The word's significance lies in its ability to convey the complexity of human emotions and the depth of our desires. The frequency of its use in the Bible (13 times) underscores the significance of desire as a theme in the text. It may be used to describe a range of emotions, from positive (e.g., a desire for God's presence) to negative (e.g., a desire for something forbidden). By examining the contexts in which "machmad" appears, we can gain a deeper understanding of the role desire plays in human experience and its relationship to other emotions and attitudes.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
13 total occurrences across the text
They burned God’s house, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all of its valuable vessels.
Song of Solomon 5:16His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 64:11Our holy and our beautiful house where our fathers praised you is burned with fire. All our pleasant places are laid waste.
Lamentations 1:10The adversary has spread out his hand on all her pleasant things; for she has seen that the nations have entered into her sanctuary, concerning whom you commanded that they should not enter into your assembly.
Lamentations 1:11All her people sigh. They seek bread. They have given their pleasant things for food to refresh their soul. “Look, Yahweh, and see; for I have become despised.”
Lamentations 2:4He has bent his bow like an enemy. He has stood with his right hand as an adversary. Has killed all that were pleasant to the eye. In the tent of the daughter of Zion, he has poured out his wrath like fire.
Ezekiel 24:16“Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke: yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.
Ezekiel 24:21‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.
Ezekiel 24:25“You, son of man, shouldn’t it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart, their sons and their daughters,
Hosea 9:6For, behold, they have gone away from destruction. Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents.
Hosea 9:16Ephraim is struck. Their root has dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb.”
Joel 3:5Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my finest treasures into your temples,
1 Kings 20:6but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house, and the houses of your servants; whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away.” ’ ”