מַפָּץ

# מַפָּץ (mappats): A Rare Biblical Term for Destruction The Hebrew word *mappats* appears only once in the entire biblical text, making it an extremely rare lexical item. Its definition—"shattering"—indicates a violent, forceful breaking apart of something into fragments or pieces. This singular occurrence limits our ability to trace variations in usage or metaphorical applications within Scripture. The rarity of this term raises questions about its stylistic or rhetorical function. In biblical Hebrew, where multiple words often exist for similar concepts, the choice to employ an uncommon word typically signals intentional emphasis or a specific contextual need. Rather than using a more frequent synonym for destruction, the text selects *mappats*, perhaps to convey a particular intensity or manner of breaking. However, without additional occurrences to compare, we cannot definitively determine whether this represents specialized vocabulary, poetic language, or simply a word that fell out of common usage. For readers encountering this word, its singularity in the biblical corpus means that understanding its meaning depends entirely on its immediate context and the lexical definition provided—"shattering." This word exemplifies how even a single occurrence can reveal the diverse vocabulary available to biblical Hebrew writers and their precise choices in describing destruction and violent rupture.