H4103 H4103
Confusion, tumult, panic — a terrifying disorder, often divinely inflicted, that routs armies or disrupts communities
The noun מְהוּמָה (mehumah) denotes a sudden, disorienting panic or chaotic tumult, frequently attributed to divine intervention in battle. God promises to throw Israel's enemies into 'confusion' as a weapon of holy war (Deut 7:23; 28:20), and the pattern recurs throughout the narrative literature: the LORD sends panic among the Philistines at Mizpah (1 Sam 7:10) and at Jonathan's raid (1 Sam 14:20), among the Midianites before Gideon (Judg 7:22, implied), and among Sennacherib's forces (2 Chr 15:5-6). The prophets extend the image to eschatological scenarios where nations dissolve in mutual confusion (Zech 14:13; Ezek 22:5). Spanish 'confusión' and French 'confusion' both preserve the sense of divinely sent disarray.
Senses
1. confusion, tumult, panic (divine or military disorder) — A sudden, terrifying confusion or panic — typically divinely sent — that throws armies into disarray or disrupts entire communities. Promised as a weapon of holy war against Israel's enemies (Deut 7:23; Exod 14:24; 23:27), it manifests in Philistine routs (1 Sam 5:9, 11; 7:10; 14:20), Zechariah's eschatological battle (Zech 14:13), and prophetic judgment on rebellious peoples (Isa 22:5; Ezek 22:5). Deuteronomy 28:20 lists it among covenant curses. The word always implies more than mere noise — it is a collapse of order and morale. Spanish 'confusión' and German 'Verwirrung' both convey the psychologically paralyzing quality. 12×
AR["ارْتِبَاكًا", "اضْطِراباتٍ", "اضْطِرَابًا", "اضْطِرَابٌ", "اضْطِرَابٍ", "اضْطِرَابَاتٌ", "اضْطِرَابُ", "اضْطِرَابُ-", "الاِضْطِرَابَ", "الِاضْطِرَابِ", "اِضْطِرابٌ", "وَ-اضْطِرابٌ"]·ben["আতঙ্ক", "আতঙ্ক-", "এবং-অশান্তি", "কোলাহলের", "গোলযোগগুলো", "বিভ্রান্তি", "বিভ্রান্তি-", "বিশৃঙ্খলা", "বিশৃঙ্খলার", "হট্টগোলের"]·DE["[המהומה]", "[ומהומה]", "[מהומה]", "[מהומת]", "confusion", "der-confusion", "tumult", "tumult-von-"]·EN["and-trouble", "confusion", "panic-of", "the-confusion", "the-tumult", "tumult", "tumult-of-", "tumults"]·FR["[מהומה]", "[מהומת]", "confusion", "et-ומהומה", "le-confusion", "trouble", "tumult", "tumult-de-"]·heb["ה-מהומה", "ו-מהומה", "מהוּמוֹת", "מהומה", "מהומת", "מהומת־"]·HI["उलझन", "और-व्याकुलता", "कोलाहल", "गड़बड़", "गड़बड़-का", "गड़बड़ियाँ", "गड़बड़ी", "घबराहट", "हड़बड़ाहट", "हलचल", "हलचल-"]·ID["dan-kekacauan", "kegemparan", "kegemparan-", "kekacauan", "kekacauan-", "kekacauan-kekacauan", "kekacauannya"]·IT["[המהומה]", "[מהומה]", "[מהומת]", "confusion", "e-e-trouble", "il-confusion", "tumulto", "tumulto-di-"]·jav["bingung-punika", "geger", "geger-geger", "gègèr", "gègèr-", "gègèran-", "ing-geger.", "lan-kang-dipun-tindhes", "lan-kasusahan"]·KO["그-혼란을", "그-혼란의", "그러나-혼란이", "혼란", "혼란과", "혼란들을", "혼란들이", "혼란이", "혼란이-", "혼란이라"]·PT["a-confusão", "confusão", "confusão-de-", "confusões", "e-confusão", "tumulto", "tumulto-de", "tumultos"]·RU["и-смятение", "смятение", "смятение-", "смятением", "смятения"]·ES["con-confusión", "confusiones", "confusión", "confusión-de", "la-confusión", "tumultos", "y-turbación"]·SW["hofu", "hofu-ya", "kwa-fadhaa", "machafuko", "mkanganyiko", "na-wasiwasi", "wa-fujo", "ya-machafuko"]·TR["gürültü", "kargasanin", "kargaşada", "kargaşalar", "kargaşaları", "karmaşa", "karışıklık", "karışıklığı", "karışıklığı-", "panik-", "ve-kargaşa"]·urd["افراتفری", "اور-بےچینی", "بھڑک-", "گھبراہٹ", "ہلچل-کا", "ہنگامہ", "ہنگامہ-والی", "ہنگامہ-کا", "ہنگامے", "ہنگامے-کا"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† מְהוּמָה n.f. tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture—abs. מ׳ Dt 7:23 + 7 times; cstr. מְהוּמַת 1 S 5:11 Ez 22:5; pl. abs. מְהוּמוֹת 2 Ch 15:5, מְהוּמֹת Am 3:9;— 1. tumult, confusion Am 3:9 (‖ עֲשׁוּקִים oppression), disturbance, turmoil (opp. peace) 2 Ch 15:5 (‖ vb. המם v 6), cf. Ez 22:5; disquietude (of mind) Pr 15:16; especially tumult & confusion, panic, as due to divine judgment…