Original Word: מוּךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: muwk
Pronunciation: mook
Phonetic Spelling: (mook)
Definition: To be low, to be poor, to be impoverished
Meaning: to become thin, be impoverished

be waxen poorer

A primitive root; to become thin, i.e. (figuratively) be impoverished -- be (waxen) poor(-er).

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be low or depressed, to grow poor
NASB Translation
becomes poor (3), becomes poor (1), poorer (1).

[מוּךְ] verb be low, depressed, grow poor (Late Hebrew id., Niph`al; Aramaic מוּךְ, sink or bend down; compare מָכַח, Syriac , be brought low, humble); —

Qal Perfect consecutive וּמָח Leviticus 27:8 (P); Imperfect יָמוּח Leviticus 25:25,35,39 (all H); Participle מָח Leviticus 25:47 (P): all of impoverished Israelites.

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G639 (ἀπορέω, aporeō): To be at a loss, to be in doubt, to be perplexed
• G5011 (ταπεινός, tapeinos): Lowly, humble, of low degree
• G5013 (ταπεινόω, tapeinoō): To make low, to humble, to abase

These Greek terms reflect similar themes of humility, lowliness, and the challenges of being in a state of need or confusion, paralleling the Hebrew concept of מוּךְ (mûk) in its emphasis on reduced circumstances and the resulting dependence on others or divine intervention.

Usage: The verb מוּךְ (mûk) is used in the context of becoming poor or impoverished, often referring to a state of financial or material need.

Context: The Hebrew verb מוּךְ (mûk) appears in the Old Testament to describe a condition of poverty or destitution. It is a term that conveys the idea of being reduced in circumstances, often leading to a reliance on others or on divine provision. The concept of poverty in the biblical context is not merely an economic condition but also carries social and spiritual implications. The impoverished are often depicted as those who are vulnerable and in need of protection and justice.

In Leviticus 25:25, the term is used in the context of the Jubilee laws, where it describes a person who has become poor and is forced to sell part of their property: "If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his brother has sold." (BSB)

The biblical narrative often emphasizes the responsibility of the community to care for those who are impoverished, reflecting the broader theological theme of God's concern for the marginalized and the call for His people to act justly and mercifully.

וּמָ֥ךְ ומך יָמ֣וּךְ יָמ֥וּךְ ימוך מָ֥ךְ מך mach māḵ ū·māḵ uMach ūmāḵ yā·mūḵ yaMuch yāmūḵInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts