Mitzraim

Photo Credit: Ali Hegazy, unsplash.com

Mitzraim

Mitzraim is the Hebrew word for Egypt. Egypt is a Biblical type for the world. God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and led them to the Promised Land of Israel.

Looking at the Hebrew word Mitzraim, the “im” ending is an indication that it is plural, and the “mi” prefix means “from” or “of”, so the base word that we are left with is tzar. Tzar in Hebrew means narrow, tight. It can also mean distress or troubles, and the verb can mean to besiege, bind, persecute. It also forms part of the word tzarich, meaning to have want or need. This forms a picture for us that Egypt was a narrow oppressive dangerous needy place. A place of bondage.

It becomes interesting that Scripture repeats over and over that God leads His people into a large place. Take a look at a few examples:

Exodus 3:8

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Judges 18:10

When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.

2 Samuel 22:20

He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Psalm 18:19

He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Psalm 118:5

I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.

Examining the Hebrew word for “large place”, merchav, we see that this word means expanse, wide open space, to be widened or enlarged, broad loose, scope, roominess, vastness, breadth, capaciousness; region; freedom. The verb rachav means to become wide or broad.

We see then the contrasts of narrow to wide, needy to without lack, bound to free, built right into the words that God used to deliver His People. We see that when God delivers, He sets captives free from a terrible tight restrictive place, into a large place, a place that has room to grow and spread and enlarge, where there is freedom and provision. It is also related to the word for generosity.

With all the emphasis on awakening, revival, growth, setting free…that has been going on in the Church, I thought that this word study would be meaningful, drawing a picture of God’s purpose for His children. He’s spoken about enlarging, and an overflowing that can’t be contained, and harvest. Sometimes the Hebrew reveals more understanding.