H4041 H4041
eagerness, intent, forward direction
A hapax legomenon of uncertain meaning in Habakkuk 1:9, describing the Chaldean invaders. The text reads literally 'the eagerness of their faces is eastward' or 'forward.' Scholars debate whether this means eager determination, the assembling or massing of their forces, or simply their forward motion. BDB notes the text is probably corrupt. Nevertheless, the context describes the unstoppable advance of the Babylonian army, and this term somehow characterizes their relentless forward momentum.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Eagerness, forward intent, or direction of advance. Habakkuk 1:9 uses this of the Chaldeans: 'the eagerness of their faces forward.' BDB suggests meanings ranging from 'assembling' to 'eagerness,' comparing questionable Arabic cognates. The Spanish gloss 'la-dirección-de' (the direction of) reflects uncertainty. Despite textual difficulties, the context of Babylonian invasion makes clear this describes their focused, relentless advance toward conquest. 1×
AR["اتِّجاهُ"]·ben["দিক-"]·DE["[מגמת]"]·EN["the-eagerness-of"]·FR["parfum"]·heb["מגמת"]·HI["उद्देश्य"]·ID["keinginan"]·IT["[מגמת]"]·jav["radi"]·KO["향하여"]·PT["direção-de-"]·RU["стремление"]·ES["la-dirección-de-"]·SW["mwelekeo-wa"]·TR["toplanması"]·urd["رُخ"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [מְגַמָּה] n.f. Hb 1:9 (of the Chaldaeans) מְגַמַּת פְּנֵיהֶם קָדִ֑ימָה, of uncertain meaning: Ges the assembling of their faces is (directed) forwards; Ew De Ke eagerness, comparing (questionably) גָּמָא swallow Jb 39:24, and جَامَ (Freyt.) seek (whence St proposes מְגֻמַת). Text prob. erron.