Lexical Summary
maveth: death, died, die
Original Word:מָוֶת
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:maveth
Pronunciation:MAH-veth
Phonetic Spelling:(maw'-veth)
KJV: (be) dead((-ly)), death, die(-d)
NASB:death, died, die, dies, dead, deadly
Word Origin:[fromH4191 (מוּת - die)]
1. death (natural or violent)
2. (concretely) the dead, their place or state (hades)
3. (figuratively) pestilence, ruin
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be deadly, death, died
Frommuwth; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin -- (be) dead((-ly)), death, die(-d).
see HEBREWmuwth
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
muthDefinitiondeath
NASB Translationdead (4), deadly (3), Death (2), death (129), die (7), died (9), dies (6), plague (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
161Exodus 10:17 ; — absolute
Deuteronomy 19:6 +;
Psalm 116:15; construct
Genesis 25:11 +; suffix
Genesis 27:2 +; plural construct
Ezekiel 28:10; suffix
Isaiah 53:9; —
death, opposed to life,Deuteronomy 30:15,19;2 Samuel 15:21;the death of all men (that all go to)Numbers 16:29 (J), as distinguished from violent death;day of deathGenesis 27:2 (J)Judges 13:7;1 Samuel 15:35 +;Isaiah 6:1;Isaiah 14:28;Numbers 35:25,28,32;Joshua 20:6 (P),1 Kings 11:40;Genesis 27:7,10;Genesis 50:16 (JE);Genesis 26:18 (J),Genesis 25:11;Leviticus 16:1;Numbers 35:28 (P),Deuteronomy 31:27,29 (D) +;Job 18:13firstborn of death (deadly disease); of fliesEcclesiastes 10:1, unclean animalsLeviticus 11:31,32 (P).
death by violence as a penalty : + or person:a case of death to, orin a man, guilty of capital crimeDeuteronomy 19:6;Deuteronomy 21:22;Jeremiah 26:11,16;Deuteronomy 22:26; ()1 Samuel 20:31;1 Samuel 26:16;2 Samuel 12:5;2 Samuel 19:29;1 Kings 2:26;Proverbs 16:14messengers of death;Isaiah 53:9in his (martyr-) death (see BrMP 359).
state of death orplace of death ("" )Isaiah 28:15,18;Isaiah 38:18;Hosea 13:14;Habakkuk 2:5;Psalm 6:6;Psalm 49:15;Songs 8:6;Proverbs 5:5;Proverbs 7:27; ("" )Job 28:22;gates of deathPsalm 9:14;Psalm 107:18;Job 38:17.
Topical Lexicon
Overviewמָוֶת (mavet) appears about one hundred fifty-five times across the Law, Prophets, and Writings. It denotes physical cessation of life, the threat or sentence of death, the realm or power of death, and metaphorical or spiritual death. The word often stands in poetic parallelism with שְׁאוֹל (Sheol) and is frequently personified. Usage ranges from the ordinary record of an individual’s demise (Genesis 25:8) to profound theological affirmations that the Lord rules over death and life (1 Samuel 2:6).
Physical Death as the Universal Appointment
Human mortality after the fall is woven through Scripture. “The day you eat of it, you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17) frames the biblical narrative. Patriarchal obituaries echo the certainty of the event (Genesis 25:8;Genesis 35:29). Ecclesiastes reflects, “A time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Death is the boundary of earthly existence and the continual reminder of humanity’s need for divine salvation.
Death as Judicial Penalty
Mavet marks the covenant sanction for sin. The Law assigns capital punishment for murder (Exodus 21:12) and certain covenant violations, underscoring that “the wages of sin is death” (typologicallyRomans 6:23).Deuteronomy 30:15-20 sets before Israel “life and prosperity, death and destruction,” pressing covenant obedience. Prophetic indictments speak of “the way of death” chosen by rebels (Jeremiah 21:8).
Personification of Death
Poetic books treat death as an active force. Job laments, “Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears’” (Job 28:22).Psalm 49:14 pictures the wicked as “sheep appointed to Sheol; Death will shepherd them.”Song of Solomon 8:6 sets love in contest with a grim rival: “Love is as strong as death.”Hosea 13:14 addresses the foe directly: “Where, O Death, are your plagues?” Such texts anticipate a final confrontation in which God alone prevails.
The Shadow of Death
The compound צַלְמָוֶת (tsalmavet, “shadow of death”) intensifies the peril. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4). Job speaks of a land “as dark as the shadow of death” (Job 10:21-22). The expression captures extreme danger, deep gloom, or terminal crisis, yet even there the covenant God is present to shepherd His own.
Divine Sovereignty over Death
“The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up” (1 Samuel 2:6). Psalms extol His saving power: “Our God is a God of salvation; the Lord GOD delivers us from death” (Psalm 68:20). Hezekiah’s healing illustrates personal deliverance (2 Kings 20:1-6). The Passover and sacrificial system portray substitutionary death, pointing beyond animal victims to a greater Redeemer.
Wisdom Literature and the Two Paths
Proverbs warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). The adulteress’s house “sinks down to death” (Proverbs 7:27). By contrast, “In the path of righteousness is life, but another path leads to death” (Proverbs 12:28). Death functions as both consequence and destination for folly and sin.
Prophetic Warnings and Promises
Isaiah confronts Judah’s leaders who made “a covenant with death” (Isaiah 28:15, 18), exposing futile alliances. Ezekiel reveals the Lord’s heart: “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone… Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11). The climactic promise resounds: “He will swallow up death forever” (Isaiah 25:8), echoed by Paul in1 Corinthians 15:54.
Messianic Fulfillment and Eschatological Triumph
Hosea 13:14’s pledge, “I will redeem them from Death,” finds realization in the Messiah’s atoning death and resurrection. The New Testament cites the verse to proclaim victory: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). מָוֶת becomes the very means by which the Savior secures life for many (Isaiah 53:12;Hebrews 2:14).
Ministry Implications
1. Pastoral Care:Psalm 116:15 reassures grieving saints, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” Comfort is grounded in God’s valuation of His people even in death.
2. Evangelism: The stark alternatives of life and death (Deuteronomy 30:19) urge clear gospel proclamation.
3. Hope of Resurrection: Believers face death without despair, confident that the Lord “delivers my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling” (Psalm 116:8) and will ultimately abolish the last enemy.
4. Ethical Living: Awareness of death fosters wisdom (Psalm 90:12) and holy urgency (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7).
5. Worship: Assurance of divine sovereignty over death fuels praise—“You rescued me from the jaws of death” (Psalm 30:3).
Summary
מָוֶת threads through Scripture as enemy, penalty, and mystery, yet always under God’s dominion. From Eden’s warning to Isaiah’s promise and Hosea’s taunt, the Old Testament prepares the reader for the gospel’s declaration that death is conquered through the risen Christ. The believer now lives in reverent realism about mortality, confident expectation of bodily resurrection, and joyful service until “the dead in Christ will rise” and “there will be no more death” (1 Thessalonians 4:16;Revelation 21:4).
Forms and Transliterations
בְ֭מוֹתוֹ בְּמ֣וֹת בְּמ֤וֹת בְּמֹת֑וֹ בְּמֹת֖וֹ בְּמֹתָ֑יו בְּמֹתָ֑ם בְּמֹתָ֖ם בְּמֹתָ֜ם בְּמוֹת֔וֹ בְּמוֹתֽוֹ׃ בְמוֹת֔וֹ בְמוֹת֣וֹ בַּמָּ֣וֶת במות במותו במותו׃ במתו במתיו במתם הַ֝מָּ֗וְתָה הַכְּמ֥וֹת הַמָּ֔וֶת הַמָּ֖וֶת הַמָּ֙וֶת֙ הַמָּ֥וֶת הַמָּֽוֶת׃ הכמות המות המות׃ המותה וְ֝לַמָּ֗וֶת וְהַמָּ֙וֶת֙ וָ֭מָוֶת וָמָֽוֶת׃ וּבְמ֤וֹת וּבְמוֹתָ֖ם ובמות ובמותם והמות ולמות ומות ומות׃ כְּמ֣וֹת כְּמ֤וֹת כְּמ֥וֹת כַּמָּֽוֶת׃ כַמָּ֙וֶת֙ כמות כמות׃ לְמָ֙וֶת֙ לְמוֹתָ֗ם לְמוֹתֽוֹ׃ לַ֝מָּ֗וֶת לַמָּ֑וֶת לַמָּ֔וֶת לַמָּ֗וֶת לַמָּ֙וֶת֙ לַמָּ֜וֶת לַמָּ֣וֶת לַמָּ֤וֶת למות למותו׃ למותם מ֔וֹת מ֖וֹת מ֣וֹת מ֥וֹת מִ֫מָּ֥וֶת מִמָּ֑וֶת מִמָּ֖וֶת מִמָּ֗וֶת מִמָּ֣וֶת מִמָּֽוֶת׃ מִמָּוֶת֮ מָ֑וֶת מָ֔וֶת מָ֖וֶת מָ֗וֶת מָ֙וֶת֙ מָ֝֗וֶת מָ֣וֶת מָ֤וֶת מָ֥וֶת מָּ֑וֶת מָֽוֶת׃ מֹת֔וֹ מֻתָ֖ן מוֹת֑וֹ מוֹת֔וֹ מוֹת֖וֹ מוֹת֗וֹ מוֹת֙ מוֹתִ֖י מוֹתִֽי׃ מוֹתִי֙ מוֹתֵ֧י מוֹתָֽהּ׃ מוֹתֽוֹ׃ מוֹת־ מות מות־ מות׃ מותה׃ מותו מותו׃ מותי מותי׃ ממות ממות׃ מתו מתן bam·mā·weṯ bamMavet bammāweṯ bə·mō·ṯām bə·mō·ṯāw bə·mō·ṯōw bə·mō·w·ṯōw ḇə·mō·w·ṯōw bə·mō·wṯ beMot bemoTam bəmōṯām bemoTav bəmōṯāw bemoTo bəmōṯōw bəmōwṯ bəmōwṯōw ḇəmōwṯōw chamMavet hak·kə·mō·wṯ hakkeMot hakkəmōwṯ ham·mā·wə·ṯāh ham·mā·weṯ hamMavet hamMavetah hammāweṯ hammāwəṯāh kam·mā·weṯ ḵam·mā·weṯ kamMavet kammāweṯ ḵammāweṯ kə·mō·wṯ keMot kəmōwṯ lam·mā·weṯ lamMavet lammāweṯ lə·mā·weṯ lə·mō·w·ṯām lə·mō·w·ṯōw leMavet ləmāweṯ lemoTam lemoTo ləmōwṯām ləmōwṯōw mā·weṯ Mavet māweṯ mim·mā·weṯ miMavet mimmāweṯ mō·ṯōw mō·w·ṯāh mō·w·ṯê mō·w·ṯî mō·w·ṯōw mō·wṯ mō·wṯ- Mot moTah moTei moTi moTo mōṯōw mōwṯ mōwṯ- mōwṯāh mōwṯê mōwṯî mōwṯōw mu·ṯān muTan muṯān ū·ḇə·mō·w·ṯām ū·ḇə·mō·wṯ ūḇəmōwṯ ūḇəmōwṯām uveMot uvemoTam Vamavet vehamMavet velamMavet vemoTo wā·mā·weṯ wāmāweṯ wə·ham·mā·weṯ wə·lam·mā·weṯ wəhammāweṯ wəlammāweṯ
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