H4797 H4797
A cry or feast of revelry, specifically the boisterous celebration of those who lounge at ease
This term appears in Amos 6:7's stinging rebuke of Israel's wealthy elite: "the revelry of those who lounge shall pass away." It denotes loud, celebratory feasting—the noise and excess of self-indulgent parties. Some connect it to a Phoenician term for religious festivals, but Amos clearly condemns secular luxury rather than worship. The prophet targets those who drink wine from bowls, anoint themselves with fine oils, and care nothing for national ruin. Their carefree banqueting will soon end in exile. The same Hebrew root can mean mourning, creating a powerful irony: their revelry will turn to lamentation.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Denotes a loud cry or feast of revelry, particularly the boisterous celebrations of the wealthy and self-indulgent. In Amos 6:7, this term describes the excessive feasting and lounging of Israel's elite, whose parties feature wine, music, and fine oils while the nation crumbles. The prophet announces their revelry will "depart"—replaced by exile. Related Phoenician and Aramaic terms suggest festive gatherings, though Amos emphasizes moral critique. The irony deepens since the root can also mean mourning-feast, foreshadowing the transformation of celebration into lamentation. 1×
AR["وَليمَةُ"]·ben["ভোজ"]·DE["[מרזח]"]·EN["the-revelry-of-"]·FR["banquet"]·heb["מרזח"]·HI["उत्सव"]·ID["pesta-pora"]·IT["[מרזח]"]·jav["kempalan"]·KO["잔치가"]·PT["orgia-de"]·RU["пиршество"]·ES["el-banquete-de"]·SW["karamu-ya"]·TR["ziyafeti"]·urd["ضیافت"]
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
† מַרְזֵחַ n.m. Am 6:7 cry (𝔗 מַרְוְחָא mourning-feast; Ph. מרזח a rel. festival (> usually a month), cf. Palm., ClGann Littm, v. GACookeInscr. 95. 121 f. 303 LzbEphem. i. 47 f. 343 f., ii. 281);— 1. mourning cry (or feast? Talm. מַרְזֵיחָא), abs. בֵּית מ׳ Je 16:5 i.e. house of mourning (‖ ספד, נוד). 2. cry of revelry, cstr. מִרְוַח סְרוּחִים Am 6:7.