Hebrew word · H4103

מְהוּמָה

mehumah

tumult

Panic, uproar, disorder, consternation. It is the noise and terror of a crowd in chaos. It comes from a root meaning to make a din or throw into confusion.

Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture, destruction, trouble, vexed, vexation

1a) tumult, confusion, disturbance, turmoil, disquietude, panic

1b) discomfiture

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 22:5

Range of meaning

Panic, uproar, disorder, consternation. It is the noise and terror of a crowd in chaos. It comes from a root meaning to make a din or throw into confusion.

Against the English

KJV 'trouble' is far too mild. 'Tumult' (BSB, ESV) catches the noise. 'Panic' (NASB) catches the terror. YLT 'noise' catches only the sound.

How it drifted

'Trouble' in modern English suggests difficulty or inconvenience, not mass terror.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Israel's holy-war tradition this is the panic YHWH throws onto the enemy. Deut 7:23 says he will confuse them 'with a great mehumah'. In 1 Sam 5:9, 11 his hand brings deadly panic on the Philistine cities. In 1 Sam 14:20 the Philistines turn their swords on each other, and Zech 14:13 promises a great panic from the LORD on the nations.

From the study of Proverbs 15:16

Range of meaning

Tumult, confusion, consternation, panic, uproar, disorder (HALOT, BDB). It comes from a root meaning 'to make a noise, be in commotion, throw into confusion' (hum/hamam).

Against the English

KJV 'trouble' and some modern 'inner turmoil' renderings make it a private worry. Elsewhere the word is louder and more public: commotion, panic, social disorder. 'Turmoil' (BSB, NIV) or 'tumult' (YLT) keeps more of its force.

How it drifted

'Trouble' in modern English sounds mild and general, like 'problems'. The Hebrew describes upheaval.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 7:23 and 1 Sam 5:9, 11: the 'great confusion' or deadly panic God sends on enemies and on Philistine cities. 1 Sam 14:20: an army in panic. Isa 22:5: 'a day of tumult'. Zech 14:13: panic from the LORD. 2 Chr 15:5: 'great disturbances' in lawless times. Amos 3:9: 'great tumults' in Samaria, next to those who 'store up violence and robbery in their strongholds' (3:10). Ezek 22:5: a city 'full of tumult'.

From the study of Amos 3:9

Range of meaning

Confusion, panic, uproar, turmoil. It comes from a root meaning to make a noise or throw into confusion. It is often used for the panic God sends on an enemy in battle, and also for social and political turmoil.

Against the English

BSB “unrest”, KJV “tumults”, WEB “unrest”, YLT “troubles”. Today “unrest” suggests protests or riots by the governed. The Hebrew is wider: the chaos of a society where no one is safe.

How it drifted

In modern English “unrest” and “tumult” usually mean popular uprisings. That can lead readers to think the problem is rebellious crowds, when in Amos the disorder comes from the powerful.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deuteronomy 7:23 and 28:20 use it for divine panic or confusion. 1 Samuel 14:20 uses it for the panic in the Philistine camp. 2 Chronicles 15:5 describes times when “great disturbances” afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands, meaning general social breakdown. Ezekiel 22:5 calls Jerusalem “full of tumult”, alongside bloodshed and extortion.

Where it appears

Deuteronomy · 2

  1. Deuteronomy 7:23 מְהוּמָ֣ה confusion

    But the LORD your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed.

  2. Deuteronomy 28:20 הַמְּהוּמָה֙ <the> confusion

    The LORD will send curses upon you, confusion and reproof in all to which you put your hand, until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the wickedness you have committed in forsaking Him.

1 Samuel · 3

  1. 1 Samuel 5:9 מְהוּמָה֙ panic

    But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.

  2. 1 Samuel 5:11 מְהֽוּמַת־ panic of

    Then the Ekronites called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was very heavy upon it.

  3. 1 Samuel 14:20 מְהוּמָ֖ה panic

    Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor.

2 Chronicles · 1

  1. 2 Chronicles 15:5 מְהוּמֹ֣ת disturbances

    In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts.

Proverbs · 1

  1. Proverbs 15:16 וּמְה֥וּמָה and turmoil

    Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.

    Here: A strong word. Elsewhere it is used for the panic God throws on enemy armies, for a city in uproar, and for the social chaos of an oppressive capital. Here it names the agitation, disorder and strife that come along with the great store.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 22:5 מְהוּמָ֨ה consternation

    For the Lord GOD of Hosts has set a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision—of breaking down the walls and crying to the mountains.

    Here: The uproar and terror of a city in chaos. It is the same word used for the God-sent panic that once routed Israel's enemies. Now it falls on Jerusalem.

Ezekiel · 2

  1. Ezekiel 7:7 מְהוּמָ֖ה confusion

    Doom has come to you, O inhabitants of the land. The time has come; the day is near; there is panic on the mountains instead of shouts of joy.

  2. Ezekiel 22:5 הַמְּהוּמָֽה׃ <the> turmoil

    Those near and far will mock you, O infamous city, full of turmoil.

Amos · 1

  1. Amos 3:9 מְהוּמֹ֤ת disturbances

    Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod and to the citadels of Egypt: “Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest in the city and the acts of oppression in her midst.”

    Here: The plural points to repeated disorder: turmoil, uproar and the panic of a society in chaos. Here that chaos is produced by the rich preying on the weak.

Zechariah · 1

  1. Zechariah 14:13 מְהֽוּמַת־ a panic of

    On that day a great panic from the LORD will come upon them, so that each will seize the hand of another, and the hand of one will rise against the other.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.